We report the discovery of two exoplanets transiting high-jitter stars. HAT-P-32b orbits the bright V = 11.289 late-F-early-G dwarf star GSC 3281-00800, with a period P = 2.150008 ? 0.000001 d. The ...stellar and planetary masses and radii depend on the eccentricity of the system, which is poorly constrained due to the high-velocity jitter (~80 m s--1). Assuming a circular orbit, the star has a mass of 1.16 ? 0.04 M and radius of 1.22 ? 0.02 R , while the planet has a mass of 0.860 ? 0.164 M J and a radius of 1.789 ? 0.025 R J. The second planet, HAT-P-33b, orbits the bright V = 11.188 late-F dwarf star GSC 2461-00988, with a period P = 3.474474 ? 0.000001 d. As for HAT-P-32, the stellar and planetary masses and radii of HAT-P-33 depend on the eccentricity, which is poorly constrained due to the high jitter (~50 m s--1). In this case, spectral line bisector spans (BSs) are significantly anti-correlated with the radial velocity residuals, and we are able to use this correlation to reduce the residual rms to ~35 m s--1. We find that the star has a mass of 1.38 ? 0.04 M and a radius of 1.64 ? 0.03 R while the planet has a mass of 0.762 ? 0.101 M J and a radius of 1.686 ? 0.045 R J for an assumed circular orbit. Due to the large BS variations exhibited by both stars we rely on detailed modeling of the photometric light curves to rule out blend scenarios. Both planets are among the largest radii transiting planets discovered to date.
We report on the discovery of HAT-P-12b, a transiting extrasolar planet orbiting the moderately bright V 12.8 K4 dwarf GSC 03033 - 00706, with a period P = 3.2130598 +/- 0.0000021 d, transit epoch Tc ...= 2454419.19556 +/- 0.00020 (BJD), and transit duration 0.0974 +/- 0.0006 d. The host star has a mass of 0.73 +/- 0.02 M, radius of 0.70+0.02 -0.01 R, effective temperature 4650 +/- 60 K, and metallicity Fe/H = -0.29 +/- 0.05. We find a slight correlation between the observed spectral line bisector spans and the radial velocity, so we consider, and rule out, various blend configurations including a blend with a background eclipsing binary, and hierarchical triple systems where the eclipsing body is a star or a planet. We conclude that a model consisting of a single star with a transiting planet best fits the observations, and show that a likely explanation for the apparent correlation is contamination from scattered moonlight. Based on this model, the planetary companion has a mass of 0.211 +/- 0.012 M J and radius of 0.959+0.029 -0.021 R J yielding a mean density of 0.295 +/- 0.025 g cm-3. Comparing these observations with recent theoretical models, we find that HAT-P-12b is consistent with a ~1-4.5 Gyr, mildly irradiated, H/He-dominated planet with a core mass MC 10 M {circled plus}. HAT-P-12b is thus the least massive H/He-dominated gas giant planet found to date. This record was previously held by Saturn.
We report the discovery of four relatively massive (2-7 M J) transiting extrasolar planets. HAT-P-20b orbits the moderately bright V = 11.339 K3 dwarf star GSC 1910-00239 on a circular orbit, with a ...period P = 2.875317 ? 0.000004 days, transit epoch Tc = 2455080.92661 ? 0.00021 (BJDUTC), and transit duration 0.0770 ? 0.0008 days. The host star has a mass of 0.76 ? 0.03 M , radius of 0.69 ? 0.02 R , effective temperature 4595 ? 80 K, and metallicity Fe/H = +0.35 ? 0.08. The planetary companion has a mass of 7.246 ? 0.187 M J and a radius of 0.867 ? 0.033 R J yielding a mean density of 13.78 ? 1.50 g cm--3. HAT-P-21b orbits the V = 11.685 G3 dwarf star GSC 3013-01229 on an eccentric (e = 0.228 ? 0.016) orbit, with a period P = 4.124481 ? 0.000007 days, transit epoch Tc = 2454996.41312 ? 0.00069, and transit duration 0.1530 ? 0.0027 days. The host star has a mass of 0.95 ? 0.04 M , radius of 1.10 ? 0.08 R , effective temperature 5588 ? 80 K, and metallicity Fe/H = +0.01 ? 0.08. The planetary companion has a mass of 4.063 ? 0.161 M J and a radius of 1.024 ? 0.092 R J yielding a mean density of 4.68+1.59 -- 0.99 g cm--3. HAT-P-21b is a borderline object between the pM and pL class planets, and the transits occur near apastron. HAT-P-22b orbits the bright V = 9.732 G5 dwarf star HD 233731 on a circular orbit, with a period P = 3.212220 ? 0.000009 days, transit epoch Tc = 2454930.22001 ? 0.00025, and transit duration 0.1196 ? 0.0014 days. The host star has a mass of 0.92 ? 0.03 M , radius of 1.04 ? 0.04 R , effective temperature 5302 ? 80 K, and metallicity Fe/H = +0.24 ? 0.08. The planet has a mass of 2.147 ? 0.061 M J and a compact radius of 1.080 ? 0.058 R J yielding a mean density of 2.11+0.40 -- 0.29 g cm--3. The host star also harbors an M-dwarf companion at a wide separation. Finally, HAT-P-23b orbits the V = 12.432 G0 dwarf star GSC 1632-01396 on a close to circular orbit, with a period P = 1.212884 ? 0.000002 days, transit epoch Tc = 2454852.26464 ? 0.00018, and transit duration 0.0908 ? 0.0007 days. The host star has a mass of 1.13 ? 0.04 M , radius of 1.20 ? 0.07 R , effective temperature 5905 ? 80 K, and metallicity Fe/H = +0.15 ? 0.04. The planetary companion has a mass of 2.090 ? 0.111 M J and a radius of 1.368 ? 0.090 R J yielding a mean density of 1.01 ? 0.18 g cm--3. HAT-P-23b is an inflated and massive hot Jupiter on a very short period orbit, and has one of the shortest characteristic infall times (7.5+2.9 -- 1.8 Myr) before it gets engulfed by the star.
We report on the discovery of HAT-P-11b, the smallest radius transiting extrasolar planet (TEP) discovered from the ground, and the first hot Neptune discovered to date by transit searches. HAT-P-11b ...orbits the bright (V = 9.587) and metal rich (Fe/H = +0.31 +- 0.05) K4 dwarf star GSC 03561-02092 with P = 4.8878162 +- 0.0000071 days and produces a transit signal with depth of 4.2 mmag, the shallowest found by transit searches that is due to a confirmed planet. We present a global analysis of the available photometric and radial velocity (RV) data that result in stellar and planetary parameters, with simultaneous treatment of systematic variations. The planet, like its near-twin GJ 436b, is somewhat larger than Neptune (17 M{sub +}, 3.8 R{sub +}) both in mass M{sub p} = 0.081 +- 0.009 M{sub J}(25.8 +- 2.9 M{sub +}) and radius R{sub p} = 0.422 +- 0.014 R{sub J}(4.73 +- 0.16 R{sub +}). HAT-P-11b orbits in an eccentric orbit with e = 0.198 +- 0.046 and omega = 355.{sup 0}2 +- 17.{sup 0}3, causing a reflex motion of its parent star with amplitude 11.6 +- 1.2 m s{sup -1}, a challenging detection due to the high level of chromospheric activity of the parent star. Our ephemeris for the transit events is T{sub c} = 2454605.89132 +- 0.00032 (BJD), with duration 0.0957 +- 0.0012 days, and secondary eclipse epoch of 2454608.96 +- 0.15 days (BJD). The basic stellar parameters of the host star are M{sub *} = 0.809{sup +0.020}{sub -0.027} M{sub sun}, R{sub *} = 0.752 +- 0.021 R{sub sun}, and T{sub eff*} = 4780 +- 50 K. Importantly, HAT-P-11 will lie on one of the detectors of the forthcoming Kepler mission; this should make possible fruitful investigations of the detailed physical characteristic of both the planet and its parent star at unprecedented precision. We discuss an interesting constraint on the eccentricity of the system by the transit light curve and stellar parameters. This will be particularly useful for eccentric TEPs with low-amplitude RV variations in Kepler's field. We also present a blend analysis, that for the first time treats the case of a blended transiting hot Jupiter mimicking a transiting hot Neptune, and proves that HAT-P-11b is not such a blend.
We report the discovery of HAT-P-30b, a transiting exoplanet orbiting the V = 10.419 dwarf star GSC 0208-00722. The planet has a period P = 2.810595 ? 0.000005 days, transit epoch Tc = 2455456.46561 ...? 0.00037 (BJD), and transit duration 0.0887 ? 0.0015 days. The host star has a mass of 1.24 ? 0.04 M , radius of 1.21 ? 0.05 R , effective temperature of 6304 ? 88 K, and metallicity Fe/H = +0.13 ? 0.08. The planetary companion has a mass of 0.711 ? 0.028 M J and radius of 1.340 ? 0.065 R J yielding a mean density of 0.37 ? 0.05 g cm--3. We also present radial velocity measurements that were obtained throughout a transit that exhibit the Rossiter-McLaughlin effect. By modeling this effect, we measure an angle of Delta *l = 735 ? 90 between the sky projections of the planet's orbit normal and the star's spin axis. HAT-P-30b represents another example of a close-in planet on a highly tilted orbit, and conforms to the previously noted pattern that tilted orbits are more common around stars with T eff 6250 K.
We report on the discovery of a planetary system with a close-in transiting hot Jupiter on a near circular orbit and a massive outer planet on a highly eccentric orbit. The inner planet, HAT-P-13b, ...transits the bright V = 10.622 G4 dwarf star GSC 3416 - 00543 every P = 2.916260 +/- 0.000010 days, with transit epoch Tc = 2454779.92979 +/- 0.00038 (BJD) and duration 0.1345 +/- 0.0017 days. The outer planet HAT-P-13c orbits the star every P 2 = 428.5 +/- 3.0 days with a nominal transit center (assuming zero impact parameter) of T 2c = 2454870.4 +/- 1.8 (BJD) or time of periastron passage T 2,peri = 2454890.05 +/- 0.48 (BJD). Transits of the outer planet have not been observed, and may not be present. The host star has a mass of 1.22+0.05 -0.10 M, radius of 1.56 +/- 0.08 R, effective temperature of 5653 +/- 90 K, and is rather metal-rich with Fe/H = +0.41 +/- 0.08. The inner planetary companion has a mass of 0.853+0.029 -0.046 M J, and radius of 1.281 +/- 0.079 R J, yielding a mean density of 0.498+0.103 -0.069 g cm-3. The outer companion has m 2sin i 2 = 15.2 +/- 1.0 M J, and orbits on a highly eccentric orbit of e 2 = 0.691 +/- 0.018. While we have not detected significant transit timing variations of HAT-P-13b, due to gravitational and light-travel time effects, future observations will constrain the orbital inclination of HAT-P-13c, along with its mutual inclination to HAT-P-13b. The HAT-P-13 (b, c) double-planet system may prove extremely valuable for theoretical studies of the formation and dynamics of planetary systems.
We report the discovery of HAT-P-27b, an exoplanet transiting the moderately bright G8 dwarf star GSC 0333-00351 (V = 12.214). The orbital period is 3.039586 ? 0.000012 days, the reference epoch of ...transit is 2455186.01879 ? 0.00054 (BJD), and the transit duration is 0.0705 ? 0.0019 days. The host star with its effective temperature 5300 ? 90 K is somewhat cooler than the Sun and is more metal-rich with a metallicity of +0.29 ? 0.10. Its mass is 0.94 ? 0.04 M and radius is 0.90+0.05 -- 0.04 R . For the planetary companion we determine a mass of 0.660 ? 0.033 M J and radius of 1.038+0.077 -- 0.058 R J. For the 30 known transiting exoplanets between 0.3 M J and 0.8 M J, a negative correlation between host star metallicity and planetary radius and an additional dependence of planetary radius on equilibrium temperature are confirmed at a high level of statistical significance.
We report the discovery of HAT-P-24b, a transiting extrasolar planet orbiting the moderately bright V = 11.818 F8 dwarf star GSC 0774--01441, with a period P = 3.3552464 ? 0.0000071 days, transit ...epoch Tc = 2455216.97669 ? 0.00024 (BJD)11, and transit duration 3.653 ? 0.025 hr. The host star has a mass of 1.191 ? 0.042 M , radius of 1.317 ? 0.068 R , effective temperature 6373 ? 80 K, and a low metallicity of Fe/H = -0.16 ? 0.08. The planetary companion has a mass of 0.681 ? 0.031 M J and radius of 1.243 ? 0.072 R J yielding a mean density of 0.439 ? 0.069 g cm-3. By repeating our global fits with different parameter sets, we have performed a critical investigation of the fitting techniques used for previous Hungarian-made Automated Telescope planetary discoveries. We find that the system properties are robust against the choice of priors. The effects of fixed versus fitted limb darkening are also examined. HAT-P-24b probably maintains a small eccentricity of e = 0.052+0.022 --0.017, which is accepted over the circular orbit model with false alarm probability 5.8%. In the absence of eccentricity pumping, this result suggests that HAT-P-24b experiences less tidal dissipation than Jupiter. Due to relatively rapid stellar rotation, we estimate that HAT-P-24b should exhibit one of the largest known Rossiter-McLaughlin effect amplitudes for an exoplanet ( Delta *DV RM 95 m s--1) and thus a precise measurement of the sky-projected spin-orbit alignment should be possible.
We report the discovery of HAT-P-31b, a transiting exoplanet orbiting the V = 11.660 dwarf star GSC 2099-00908. HAT-P-31b is the first planet discovered with the Hungarian-made Automated Telescope ...(HAT) without any follow-up photometry, demonstrating the feasibility of a new mode of operation for the HATNet project. The 2.17 MJ , 1.1 RJ planet has a period of Pb = 5.0054 days and maintains an unusually high eccentricity of eb = 0.2450 ? 0.0045, determined through Keck, FIbr-fed Echelle Spectrograph, and Subaru high-precision radial velocities (RVs). Detailed modeling of the RVs indicates an additional quadratic residual trend in the data detected to very high confidence. We interpret this trend as a long-period outer companion, HAT-P-31c, of minimum mass 3.4 MJ and period >=2.8 years. Since current RVs span less than half an orbital period, we are unable to determine the properties of HAT-P-31c to high confidence. However, dynamical simulations of two possible configurations show that orbital stability is to be expected. Further, if HAT-P-31c has non-zero eccentricity, our simulations show that the eccentricity of HAT-P-31b is actively driven by the presence of c, making HAT-P-31 a potentially intriguing dynamical laboratory.
In the ongoing HATNet survey we have detected a giant planet, with radius 1.33 plus or minus 0.06 R sub(Jup) and mass 1.06 plus or minus 0.12 M sub(Jup), transiting the bright (V = 10.5) star GSC ...03239-00992. The planet is in a circular orbit with period 3.852985 plus or minus 0.000005 days and midtransit epoch 2,454,035.67575 plus or minus 0.00028 (HJD). The parent star is a late F star with mass 1.29 plus or minus 0.06 M unk, radius 1.46 plus or minus 0.06 R unk, T sub(off) similar to 6570 plus or minus 80 K, Fe/H = -0.13 plus or minus 0.08, and age similar to 2.3 super(+) sub(-) super(0) sub(0) super(.) sub(.) super(5) sub(7) Gyr. With this radius and mass, HAT-P-6b has somewhat larger radius than theoretically expected. We describe the observations and their analysis to determine physical properties of the HAT-P-6 system, and briefly discuss some implications of this finding.