Plan the telescope time needed for an exoplanet transit program. Combine event duration, pre- and post-transit baselines, event count, target count, calibration overhead, and scheduling efficiency into booked and elapsed time.
Use the main result as a transparent first-order planning value. The supporting metrics expose intermediate quantities so assumptions can be checked and compared across scenarios.
The estimate does not model ephemeris uncertainty, seasonal visibility, simultaneous targets, weather, failed visits, or telescope-specific proposal rules.
Eight targets with three 5-hour transit windows, 15% overhead, and 70% scheduling efficiency require 138 booked hours or 197.14 elapsed hours.
The dominant inputs are those used directly in the displayed formula. Change one input at a time to see its effect while holding the other exoplanet transit assumptions fixed.
Fields described as optional or overhead may accept zero. Physical quantities that appear in a denominator or define the mission scale must remain positive.
Only the contingency or efficiency explicitly entered is included. Add separate reserves for effects that are not represented by an input.
Detailed models include geometry, hardware modes, environmental conditions, correlated uncertainties, and organization-specific constraints that a screening calculator cannot capture.
Recompute the case with an independent tool, document every assumption and unit, test pessimistic and optimistic scenarios, and compare against subsystem or observatory requirements.
| Output | Use |
|---|---|
| Main result | Primary sizing or planning value |
| Supporting metrics | Trace the drivers behind the result |
| Interpretation | Identify what is and is not represented |