Planet Hunters Talk

Transit-like patterns at the same time in different lightcurves in K2 C11 data

  • doctordave by doctordave

    I have noticed that there are classic transit-like patterns at exactly the same time (2871.6 BKJD) across a number of light curves of different stars (but not all) in the C11 data. These look like a much nearer object that may have partially occluded Kepler or maybe just a glitch. Can anyone tell me what causes this?

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  • ajamyajax by ajamyajax in response to doctordave's comment.

    Sorry anyone didn't get back to you earlier but only volunteers here at the moment. But as you figured, we also tend to think that repeat transit-like events at the same time across multiple light curves are probably just glitches.. Partial transits also are possible glitches and might apply to your c10 example. On the other hand if you see similar "spikes" in the data, those could be solar system objects (planets or more often small asteroids) crossing into Kepler's view. Although these could also be flares (sometimes more likely) and other causes like more distant novae. Or just glitches too. And we are all in the same boat as far as figuring out what is what. But hope this helps a bit anyway.

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