The ExoClock Project: an open integrated and interactive platform to continuous monitor the targets of the Ariel space mission

The ExoClock Project (www.exoclock.space) is an open, integrated, and interactive platform, designed to maintain the ephemerides accuracy of the Ariel targets. Ariel is ESA's medium class space mission prepared for launch in 2028 to study a large number of exoplanets to better understand their nature. ExoClock aims to monitor the Ariel targets and provide transit timings to increase the mission efficiency. 

In the project we use all currently available data (literature observations, observations conducted for other purposes, both from ground and space) to make the best use of resources. ExoClock is open to contributions from a variety of audiences — professional, amateur and industry partners — and it aims to continuous monitor the Ariel targets with a verified list of ephemerides. Apart from its role to support Ariel, ExoClock acts as a service by providing the verified ephemerides for further use by the wide exoplanet community. In this presentation the nature, updates and the current status of the ExoClock project will be described in detail. Moreover, the first results will be presented briefly and finally, strategies and lessons learned from the operation of the project so far will be shared with the community.