The problem
Starspots can distort transit light curves and shift apparent transit mid-times. Those shifts can mimic or mask the small timing signals used in TTV, orbital-decay, apsidal-precession, and ephemeris-update studies.
TUBITAK 3501 public project hub
Starspot timing systematics in active exoplanet host stars.
Public project information for "Comprehensive Characterization and Correction of Starspot-Induced Systematic Effects on Exoplanet Transit Mid-Time Measurements", a 30-month research plan led by Dr. Arif Solmaz at Istanbul Health and Technology University.
Project purpose
A decision framework for active-star transit timing.
The method
The project combines physical transit-plus-spot modelling, systematic simulation, machine-learning triage, Bayesian correction, and real-data validation across active planet-host systems.
The output
The goal is not automatic correction at any cost. The project will identify when correction is justified, when uncertainty inflation is safer, and when a transit should be excluded from timing work.
Motivating signals
Preliminary timing scatter is large enough to matter.
Public site map
Project information, organized for public reading.
The site now presents project context, planned work, public data sources, open-science outputs, and update notes in one public-facing structure.
01
Science
Why starspots matter for transit timing and how the project will model them.
02
Project plan
Work packages, 30-month timeline, planned outputs, and team roles.
03
Data sources
Kepler, TESS, JWST, and community data products relevant to the project.
04
Open science
Planned code, data, documentation, and citation practices.
Project visuals
Selected figures from the current project material.
