The main objective was to collect data on nearby binary stars and start the search for planets orbiting them. Data access was the most important objective fulfilled by the project thus far. We had to apply to various observatories and we won competitions that award time to the most interesting astronomical projects. The second, also very important achievement was to identify our first candidate exoplanets, and well as show that indeed, circumbinary planets can be detected using regular telescopes (all have so far been identified using space telescopes). While this work is not public yet, we have detected for the first circumbinary planets using ground-based telescopes. We did this in northern hemisphere using the most recognised detection method: radial velocities. We have also done that in the Southern Hemisphere. In addition, we made the first detection of a transit, when the planet passes in front of one of the two stars, using a telescope in Antarctica.
Meanwhile, we have also participated in multiple investigations that discovered planets orbiting single stars. The reason we are engaged in such activities, is because we wish to compare the properties of circumbinary planets to the properties of planets orbiting single stars. For instance we wish to know whether they have the same typical masses, the same orbital periods etc, or whether they are distinct. Each similarity and difference will be used to refine the theory of planet formation.
In addition, we have worked in refining what we know about the binary stars we target themselves. Doing so, our most important discovery thus far is that of a rare pair of stars called brown dwarfs, that orbiting one another and eclipse one another. This configuration allowed to measure their mass and radius. In addition, we could know their luminosity and age and as such were able to refine theoretical developments made in the 1990s and that had remained mostly unvalidated by data since then.
We communicate these results regularly at scientific conferences, but also communicate our results to the public in various events, some to schools, some of groups of adults.
Our main results were:
1 - the first detection of a circumbinary planet using the radial-velocity method
2 - the first discovery of a circumbinary planet using a ground based telescope
3 - the first detections of transits of circumbinary planets using ground based telescope
4 - the first detection of a circumbinary planet orbiting a double-lined binary
5 - still under review, the first detection of a polar circumbinary planet
6 - circumbinary planets close to their binary tend to be low mass and have large radii
7 - there is a large previously unknown population of long period, Saturn-mass circumbinary planets. Very few circumbinary planets have masses greater than twice that of Jupiter.
8 - the first detection of the phase curve of a low mass ratio binary, with applications to exoplanet atmospheres
9 - a new method to measure the absolute mass of stars
10 - the discovery of a rare pair of eclipsing brown dwarfs (still one of only two known)
11 - a new protocol to identify whether a planet is likely to host liquid water at its surface
