Thomas Sauer
Papers
1
Total Citations
36
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1
About
Thomas Sauer is an astronomer dedicated to refining our understanding of exoplanetary systems, with a particular focus on transit timing and ephemeris maintenance. His major contribution lies in coordinating the ORBYTS (Original Research by Young Twinkle Students) program, which pairs professional researchers with secondary school students to conduct authentic scientific research. Sauer’s most cited work, “Original Research by Young Twinkle Students (ORBYTS): ephemeris refinement of transiting exoplanets” (2020, 36 citations), demonstrates his innovative approach to both science and education. In this study, he led a team that used a global network of robotic telescopes, citizen astronomer observations, and TESS data to refine the orbital ephemerides of exoplanets with transit time uncertainties exceeding ten minutes or lacking observations for over three years. This work is critical for ensuring accurate scheduling of future follow-up observations with facilities like JWST and for maintaining the long-term viability of exoplanet transit studies. By combining rigorous scientific output with a pioneering educational model, Sauer has shown that cutting-edge research can be democratized, inspiring a new generation of astronomers while making tangible contributions to exoplanet science.
Research Focus
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Top Papers
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