2001/02/28 by I. A. Bond, F. Abe, R. J. Dodd +34 · 14 citations
Physics and Astronomy · #Astronomy #Astrophysics #Astrophysics and Star Formation Studies #Bulge #Exoplanet #Galaxy #Gamma-ray bursts and supernovae #Gravitational lens #Gravitational microlensing #Light curve #Magnification #Optics #Parallax #Physics #Planet #Redshift #Stars #Stellar, planetary, and galactic studies #astro-ph
paper · pdf · doi:10.1046/j.1365-8711.2001.04776.x
published as Mon.Not.Roy.Astron.Soc. 327 (2001) 868 · 14 pages, 9 embedded postscript figures, 2 PNG figures, replaced with revised version accepted for publication in MNRAS, full resolution version available at http://www.phys.canterbury.ac.nz/~physib/papers
arxiv created 2001/07/22 · openalex publication_date 2001/11/01 · arxiv updated 2009/12/01 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/08/05
We describe observations carried out by the MOA group of the Galactic bulge during 2000 that were designed to detect efficiently gravitational microlensing of faint stars in which the magnification is high and/or of short duration. These events are particularly useful for studies of extrasolar planets and faint stars. Approximately 17 deg2 were monitored at a sampling rate of up to six times per night. The images were analysed in real time using a difference imaging technique. 20 microlensing candidates were detected, of which eight were alerted to the microlensing community whilst in progress. Approximately half of the candidates had high magnifications (≳10), at least one had very high magnification (≳50), and one exhibited a clear parallax effect. The details of these events are reported here, together with details of the on-line difference imaging technique. Some nova-like events were also observed and these are described, together with one asteroid.