When multiple exoplanets orbit the same star, their gravitational dance creates subtle but measurable perturbations in their transit times and stellar radial velocities. These tiny deviations hold the keys to understanding planetary masses, orbital dynamics, and system architecture—but extracting this information requires sophisticated modeling that can simulate complex multi-body interactions while fitting real observational data.
TRADES (TRAnsits and Dynamics of Exoplanetary Systems) tackles this challenge head-on with a robust Fortran90 core that performs N-body numerical integration while simultaneously modeling transit times, transit durations, and radial velocity measurements. The toolkit has evolved significantly since 2014, now featuring a Python interface for accessibility, photo-dynamical modeling capabilities, and support for advanced statistical analysis through MCMC fitting. Its dual approach—computing observables during orbital integration rather than post-processing—ensures self-consistent results that capture the full complexity of planetary interactions.
This isn’t just academic software; TRADES represents a decade of refinement in exoplanet characterization methodology. From confirming planetary masses through transit timing variations to constraining orbital eccentricities and inclinations, it provides the computational foundation for understanding how planetary systems form and evolve. With its recent photo-dynamical enhancements, TRADES bridges the gap between traditional orbit fitting and modern transit photometry analysis, making it an essential tool for the TESS and future PLATO era of precision exoplanet science.
⭐ Stars: 10
💻 Language: Jupyter Notebook
🔗 Repository: lucaborsato/trades