Engaging Citizen Scientists to Keep Transit Times Fresh and Ensure the Efficient Use of Transiting Exoplanet Characterization Missions

TL;DR

This paper proposes a citizen science initiative to monitor and update mid-transit times of exoplanets, ensuring efficient use of future characterization missions amid increasing target numbers.

Contribution

It introduces a community-wide program leveraging amateur astronomers and educational institutions to maintain precise exoplanet transit data.

Findings

Feasibility of citizen science for transit monitoring

Potential for large-scale data collection

Enhanced readiness for future exoplanet missions

Abstract

This white paper advocates for the creation of a community-wide program to maintain precise mid-transit times of exoplanets that would likely be targeted by future platforms. Given the sheer number of targets that will require careful monitoring between now and the launch of the next generation of exoplanet characterization missions, this network will initially be devised as a citizen science project -- focused on the numerous amateur astronomers, small universities and community colleges and high schools that have access to modest sized telescopes and off-the-shelf CCDs.