ExoClock project: an open platform for monitoring the ephemerides of Ariel targets with contributions from the public

The Ariel mission will observe spectroscopically around 1000 exoplanets to further characterise their atmospheres. For the mission to be as efficient as possible, a good knowledge of the planets’ ephemerides is needed before its launch in 2028. While ephemerides for some planets are being refined on a per-case basis, an organised effort to collectively verify or update them when necessary does not exist. In this study, we introduce the ExoClock project, an open, integrated and interactive platform with the purpose of producing a confirmed list of ephemerides for the planets that will be observed by Ariel. The project has been developed in a manner to make the best use of all available resources: observations reported in the literature, observations from space instruments and, mainly, observations from ground-based telescopes, including both professional and amateur observatories. To facilitate inexperienced observers and at the same time achieve homogeneity in the results, we created data collection and validation protocols, educational material and easy to use interfaces, open to everyone. ExoClock was launched in September 2019 and now counts over 140 participants from more than 15 countries around the world. In this release, we report the results of observations obtained until the 15h of April 2020 for 120 Ariel candidate targets. In total, 632 observations were used to either verify or update the ephemerides of 84 planets. Additionally, we developed the Exoplanet Characterisation Catalogue (ECC), a catalogue built in a consistent way to assist the ephemeris refinement process. So far, the collaborative open framework of the ExoClock project has proven to be highly efficient in coordinating scientific efforts involving diverse audiences. Therefore, we believe that it is a paradigm that can be applied in the future for other research purposes, too

Suggested Changes After Prototype I Testing

Optical design description of rectangular spot of laser head. Our target was TOP HAT intensity distribution of rectangular spot for laser surfacing

System for measurement of bending of heavy duty spindles

Device serves as a diagnostic tool for analysis and measurement of spindle bending during extension from its headstock. A method used to measure the bending has minimized sensitivity to deformation of supporting structures

Development of optical solution for the Prototype II

This report describes the development of an active laser head. This report is separated into two sections. First section describes a development of laser head with the rectangular spot. The second section describes a development of welding laser head with the adaptive zoom

Technical solution for modernization of 2m telescope

Description of technical solution for renovation of 2 m telescope in Ondřejov

Study: Spindle bending

The study concludes with an analysis of possible measurement solutions droop horizontal spindle machine tool load. Were analyzed using optical methods deflection of the laser beam and analysis of the beam pattern on the screen two cameras. Was also analyzed autocollimation method. The study also includes oprické simulation situation made ​​Zemax environment and mathematical calculations deflection, motion track and the estimated sensitivit

Development of optical solution for the Prototype I

This report describes a development of optical solution for the Prototype I. There is a development of laser collimator in the firt part of this report. You can find a development of freeform optics in the second part of this report

Development of solar diffuser.

Theoretically attainable productions of photovoltaic plants depend on the quality of solar sensors. We can determine an effeciency and reliability of photovoltaic plants with them. We introduce optical simulation of the original solution of solar sensor in software Optic Studio 15.5 Zemax. We propose new diffuser shape of solar sensor according to our analyse. We\ndescribe a development of first prototypes and their testing in the real conditions

Design and testing of optical elements for transport boards

The report describes the design of individual optical elements according to class B6 standard EN 12966 -1. Further testing was performed 1 pc prototype by exercising emission uniformity of light and colo