What Hides within the Photograph: the Analysis of a Light Curve in the Classroom

Abstract

Data from the Kepler satellite were analysed using the Mikulski Archive for Space Telescopes (MAST) database. With the participation of 53 students, we determined the parameters of the HAT-P-7b (Kepler-2) exoplanet system (transit duration, planet-to-star radius ratio, orbital period, semi-major axis, and star mass). To achieve the result, we used approaches that are easy to understand and apply to secondary school students as well. In this way, they were able to gain insight into the essential process of light curve analysis.