Theia: Faint objects in motion or the new astrometry frontier
Journal: The Theia Collaboration, Boehm C, Krone-Martins A, Amorim A, Anglada-Escude G, Brandeker A, Courbin F, Ensslin T, Falcao A, Freese K, Holl B, Labadie L, Leger A, Malbet F, Mamon G, McArthur B, Mora A, Shao M, Sozzetti A, Spolyar D, Villaver E, Albertus C, Bertone S, Bouy H, Boylan-Kolchin M, Brown A, Brown W, Cardoso V, Chemin L, Claudi R, Correia AC, Crosta M, Crouzier A, Cyr-Racine FY, Damasso M, da Silva A, Davies M, Das P, Dayal P, de Val-Borro M, Diaferio A, Erickcek A, Fairbairn M, Fortin M, Fridlund M, Garcia P, Gnedin O, Goobar A, Gordo P, Goullioud R, Hambly N, Hara N, Hobbs D, Hog E, Holland A, Ibata R, Jordi C, Klioner S, Kopeikin S, Lacroix T, Laskar J, Le Poncin-Lafitte C, Luri X, Majumdar S, Makarov V, Massey R, Mennesson B, Michalik D, de Almeida AM, Mourao A, Moustakas L, Murray N, Muterspaugh M, Oertel M, Ostorero L, Perez-Garcia A, Platais I, de Mora JP, Quirrenbach A, Randall L, Read J, Regos E, Rory B, Rybicki K, Scott P, Schneider J, Scholtz J, Siebert A, Tereno I, Tomsick J, Traub W, Valluri M, Walker M, Walton N, Watkins L, White G, Evans DW, Wyrzykowski L, Wyse R , (). Theia: Faint objects in motion or the new astrometry frontier . ,
Abstract:In the context of the ESA M5 (medium mission) call we proposed a new satellite mission, Theia, based on relative astrometry and extreme precision to study the motion of very faint objects in the Universe. Theia is primarily designed to study the local dark matter properties, the existence of Earth-like exoplanets in our nearest star systems and the physics of compact objects. Furthermore, about 15 $\%$ of the mission time was dedicated to an open observatory for the wider community to propose complementary science cases. With its unique metrology system and \point and stare" strategy
