Closeby Habitable Exoplanet Survey (CHES). V. Planetary Parameters Derived from Angular Separation Variations

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Authors: Dongjie Tan, Jianghui Ji, Chunhui Bao, Xiumin Huang, Guo Chen, Su Wang, Yao Dong, Jia-Cheng Liu, Zi Qiang Zhu, Haitao Li, Junbo Zhang, Liang Fang
+2 more Dong Li, Lei Deng
Cited by: 1
References: 54

Abstract

Abstract The Closeby Habitable Exoplanet Survey (CHES) aims to achieve microarcsecond-level astrometry of about one hundred nearby FGK-type stars within 10 pc to detect Earth-like planets. Such precision exceeds the capability of absolute astrometry relying on Gaia catalogs, whose positional accuracy degrades over time due to error propagation from stellar motion and epoch offsets, limiting their use in microarcsecond-level detection. Traditional relative astrometry depends on positional components along right ascension and declination, requiring precise knowledge of field rotation and satellite attitude, which introduces additional errors. To address this, we propose a new relative measurement model based solely on variations in the length of angular separation between the target and reference stars, independent of direction. The model incorporates effects such as proper motion, parallax, radial velocity, light aberration, gravitational lensing, and planetary perturbations, enabling reconstruction of planetary orbits and masses. This approach enhances measurement stability and precision, providing a framework that is not entirely dependent on the Gaia catalog and suitable for CHES and other future high-accuracy astrometric missions.

Fields of Study & Subjects

Stellar planetary and galactic studies Astronomy and Astrophysical Research Space Science and Extraterrestrial Life

Publication details

Journal / source
Research in Astronomy and Astrophysics
Publisher
IOP Publishing
Volume
26
Issue
8
Pages
085005–085005
Publication date
2 April 2026