French Ariel School 2026 : ExoClock training
A training session for transit ephemeris observations will be organized in May 2026 at the Observatoire des Baronnies Provençales. This international school is open to motivated master students, PhD, post-doc or early-career scientists.
Dates : May 4th (afternoon) to May 8th (morning)
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Following the annual French Ariel schools organized since 2019 thanks to the CNES support (Les Écoles Ariel – Ariel), in 2026, the French Ariel School will propose an initiation to the transit observation from small ground based telescopes, in the frame of the ExoClock program (ExoClock – a project to monitor transiting exoplanets) leaded by Anastasia Kokori (UCL).
The ExoClock program
ExoClock is an Ariel support program for transit ephemeris update, in order to optimize the observing strategy of Ariel with an updated ephemeris database – many transit times are related to TESS or other satellites observations, with a unescapable drift rising with time. Uncertainties on transit times have a direct impact on the observing strategy of Ariel, by enhancing waste time for observations for security.
Since summer 2025, the ExoClock project is managed by the Pulsar non-profit civil law company, founded by the ExoClock coordinators, Angelos Tsiaras, Anastasia Kokori and Georgia Pantelidou, based in Thessaloniki, Greece.
ExoClock acts as a vehicle for research, education and outreach serving international collaborations opening exoplanet science to the entire world. Today ExoClock counts more than 2000 participants and the project receives an average of 300 observations per month. The project has been running mostly based on volunteer basis for the past 6 years. As it is now really large, we need your support to sustain its activities and service. You have the opportunity to help ExoClock continue its activities by contributing to the following account: https://www.exoclock.space/donate
Schedule of the school
Two observing nights have been reserved at the Observatoire des Baronnies Provençales (Observatoire des Baronnies Provencales – Gestion d’un Observatoire Astronomique Régional au sein du Parc Naturel Régional des Baronnies Provençales), which is participating to ExoClock under the coordination of Anaël Wünsche, followed by two days of data reduction with several adapted softwares (e.g. HOPS) – if successful, the observations will be proposed to be included in the ExoClock database.
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Agenda
- Arrival on Monday, May 4th at OBP (afternoon – transfer from Avignon to OBP will be organized by the organizers – still tbd)
- Observing nights 4 and 5 May with the OBP team (the choice of transit planets will be decided in advance) -lodging at OBP
- Data reduction on 6 and 7 May (daytime), in a reserved place close to Avignon – lodging on site
- Departure on Friday, May 8th (morning)
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Scientific and organizing committee:
- Jean-Philippe Beaulieu (IAP)
- Pierre Drossart (IAP)
- Jean-Baptiste Marquette
- Anaël Wünsche (OBP)
Local organization : Anaël Wünscshe (also France national ExoClock correspondant)
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Accomodation
The accomodation will be taken in charge by the Ariel committee, thanks to CNES support – only the travel to/from Avignon will be at the charge of participants. Transfer from Avignon to OBP will be organized by the local organizing committee (more details will be given later)
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Pre-inscription
If you intend to attend the school, please fill the form below to candidate – the number of participants is strongly limited to ~12 persons. A priority will be given to motivated master students, PhD and post-doc in the field of exoplanets, but confirmed research scientists or engineers can apply. The selection will be announced by the end of February.