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Space Astrometry Missions for Exoplanet Science: Gaia and the Legacy of Hipparcos

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Handbook of Exoplanets

Abstract

Astrometry as a technique has so far proved of limited utility when employed as either a follow-up tool or to independently search for planetary-mass companions around stars in the solar neighborhood. However, the situation is bound to change soon. In this chapter, we provide a brief overview of past and present efforts to detect planets via milli-arcsecond (mas) astrometry, with a special focus on the legacy of the Hipparcos mission. We then focus on the Gaia mission that is poised to become a game changer in the field of exoplanets by unleashing for the first time the power of micro-arcsecond (μas) astrometry. We start by briefly describing the mission status and operation. Next, we address some of the relevant technical issues associated with the precise and accurate determination of astrometric orbits of planetary systems using Gaia data. We then present and discuss the Gaia planet-finding capabilities. We conclude by putting Gaia astrometry in context, illustrating its potential for crucial contributions to exoplanetary science in synergy with other indirect and direct methods for the detection and characterization of planetary systems.

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Acknowledgements

This work was supported by the Italian Space Agency through Gaia mission contract: the Italian participation to DPAC, ASI 2014-025-R.1.2015 in collaboration with the Italian National Institute of Astrophysics.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. INAF – Osservatorio Astrofisico di Torino, Pino Torinese, Italy

    Alessandro Sozzetti

  2. European Space Agency (ESA-ESTEC), Noordwijk, The Netherlands

    Jos de Bruijne

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  1. Alessandro Sozzetti
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  2. Jos de Bruijne
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Correspondence to Alessandro Sozzetti .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Instituto de Astrofísica de Canarias, La Laguna, Tenerife, Spain

    Hans J. Deeg

  2. Instituto de Astrofísica de Canarias, La Laguna, Tenerife, Spain

    Juan Antonio Belmonte

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Sozzetti, A., de Bruijne, J. (2018). Space Astrometry Missions for Exoplanet Science: Gaia and the Legacy of Hipparcos. In: Deeg, H., Belmonte, J. (eds) Handbook of Exoplanets . Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-55333-7_81

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