EXOFAST Analysis of Exoplanet Transits Observed at the Union College Observatory

We have performed data analysis of the transits of the exoplanets HAT-p-3b and WASP-3b using the program EXOFAST to determine if the Union College Observatory and similar telescopes can use it as a tool of primary data analysis and modeling. Using data from the Union College Observatory collected by past and present students we have compared our results on EXOFAST to NASA database results. We used both chi-squared minimization and MCMC algorithms as the principle methods of statistical analysis for EXOFAST’s results. We conclude that chi-squared analysis is adequate for quickly determining the caliber of the data imported and MCMC is best used to refine our model. In addition, we conclude that EXOFAST is a viable method for primary data analysis of exoplanet transit data for the Union College Observatory. This provides another tool to analyze and model exoplanet transits.