The quest for understanding exoplanets has taken a significant leap forward with the help of multi-star systems, particularly through the innovative Eclipsing Binary Patrol project. This exciting citizen science initiative validates images captured by NASA’s Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS) mission, which was launched in 2018. TESS is renowned for its exceptional capabilities in detecting variable stars, providing a robust platform for discovering new celestial phenomena.
Researchers involved in the Eclipsing Binary Patrol utilized advanced machine learning techniques to identify approximately 1.2 million potential eclipsing star pairs. From this staggering number, citizen scientists played a crucial role in validating a smaller subset of around 60,000 pairs. Through their dedicated efforts, these volunteers successfully identified a total of 10,001 eclipsing binary pairs, with an impressive 7,936 of these pairs being previously unknown to the scientific community.
While machine learning technology significantly aids in identifying potential binary systems, the need for human validation remains vital. Researchers faced the challenge of manually inspecting hundreds of thousands of images that exhibit eclipse-like events to distinguish genuine binary systems from those that confounded the algorithm. As the researchers noted, “Thankfully, to the rescue come volunteers from all walks of life that boost the capacity of bandwidth-limited professional astronomers many-fold and help tackle the ever-increasing volume of publicly available astronomical data.”
This project exemplifies the powerful collaboration between humans and computers in the field of astronomy. Veselin Kostov, a research scientist at NASA Goddard Space Flight Center and the SETI Institute, and the lead author of the research paper, expressed his excitement about the potential findings: “I can’t wait to search the verified eclipsing binaries for exoplanets!” This enthusiasm reflects the broader goal of the Eclipsing Binary Patrol to enhance our understanding of the universe.
As the Eclipsing Binary Patrol continues its vital work, there is still an opportunity for individuals to get involved. If you are interested in contributing to the search for eclipsing binaries and potentially discovering new exoplanets, consider joining the team. You can find more information and sign up at Eclipsing Binaries Project.
The culmination of this remarkable project is the TESS Ten Thousand Catalog, which showcases 10,001 uniformly-vetted and validated eclipsing binary stars detected in Full-Frame Image data through machine learning and analyzed by citizen scientists. This catalog represents a significant milestone in the ongoing exploration of exoplanets and the dynamic interactions within multi-star systems.
