Detection of extrasolar planet WASP-10b by differential photometry using amateur optics

Abstract

This study presents the detection and characterization of the exoplanet WASP-10b using differential photometry performed with amateur astronomical equipment. An overview of exoplanet properties, detection techniques, and the transit method is provided, followed by a description of the observational setup, recording procedures, calibration, and data processing workflow. More than one hundred CCD images were acquired using an 8-inch Schmidt–Cassegrain telescope and a monochrome Atik 383L+ camera, with additional calibration frames to correct instrumental noise and vignetting. Differential photometry was carried out using AstroImageJ, enabling precise extraction of the stellar flux of WASP-10 relative to nearby reference stars. The transit light curve was modeled using the Mandel & Agol analytic formalism, from which key planetary parameters were estimated. Results yield a planetary radius of approximately 1.12 RJ and an orbital inclination of 89°, both in good agreement with published values. The study demonstrates that high-precision exoplanet transit measurements are achievable with advanced amateur-level equipment, offering valuable scientific and educational contributions to exoplanetary research.