Exoplanets smaller than Neptune are common around red dwarf stars (M dwarfs), with those that transit their host star constituting the bulk of known temperate worlds amenable for atmospheric ...characterization. We analyze the masses and radii of all known small transiting planets around M dwarfs, identifying three populations: rocky, water-rich, and gas-rich. Our results are inconsistent with the previously known bimodal radius distribution arising from atmospheric loss of a hydrogen/helium envelope. Instead, we propose that a density gap separates rocky from water-rich exoplanets. Formation models that include orbital migration can explain the observations: Rocky planets form within the snow line, whereas water-rich worlds form outside it and later migrate inward.
Separating rocky from watery exoplanets
The radii of small transiting exoplanets have a bimodal distribution, usually interpreted as planets with and without a thick atmosphere. Luque and Pallé demonstrate that the planets’ densities (which require measurements of both mass and radius) provide a cleaner separation between the populations than radii alone, at least for exoplanets orbiting red dwarf stars (see the Perspective by Teske). They found that one group is consistent with a purely rocky composition, whereas another group matches a model of 50% rock and 50% water. This split between rocky and water-rich planets could reflect where they formed in their planetary systems, before orbital migration. —KTS
The density of exoplanets orbiting red dwarf stars separates into rocky and water-rich populations.
The spectral signatures of optical absorbers, when combined with those of infrared molecules, play a critical role in constraining the cloud properties of exoplanet atmospheres. We aim to use optical ...transmission spectroscopy to confirm the tentative color signature previously observed by multiband photometry in the atmosphere of hot Jupiter HAT-P-55b. We observed a transit of the HAT-P-55b with the OSIRIS spectrograph on the Gran Telescopio Canarias (GTC). We created two sets of spectroscopic light curves, using the conventional band-integrated method and the newly proposed pixel-based method, to derive the transmission spectrum. We performed Bayesian spectral retrieval analyses on the transmission spectrum to interpret the observed atmospheric properties. The transmission spectra derived from the two methods are consistent, both spectrally resolving the tentative color signature observed by MuSCAT2. The retrievals on the combined OSIRIS and MuSCAT2 transmission spectrum yield a detection of Na at 5.5 σ and a tentative detection of MgH at 3.4 σ . The current optical-only wavelength coverage cannot constrain the absolute abundances of the atmospheric species. Space-based observations covering the molecular infrared bands or ground-based high-resolution spectroscopy are needed to further constrain the atmospheric properties of HAT-P-55b.
ABSTRACT
WASP-33b, a hot Jupiter around a hot star, is a rare system in which nodal precession has been discovered. We updated the model for the nodal precession of WASP-33b by adding new ...observational points. Consequently, we found a motion of the nodal precession spanning 11 yr. We present homogenous Doppler tomographic analyses of eight data sets, including two new data sets from TS23 and HIDES, obtained between 2008 and 2019, to illustrate the variations in the projected spin–orbit obliquity of WASP-33b and its impact parameter. We also present its impact parameters based on photometric transit observations captured by MuSCAT in 2017 and MuSCAT2 in 2018. We derived its real spin–orbit obliquity ψ, stellar spin inclination is, and stellar gravitational quadrupole moment J2 from the time variation models of the two orbital parameters. We obtained $\psi = 108.19^{+0.95}_{-0.97}$ deg, $i_\mathit{ s} = 58.3^{+4.6}_{-4.2}$ deg, and $J_2=(1.36^{+0.15}_{-0.12}) \times 10^{-4}$. Our J2 value was slightly smaller than the theoretically predicted value, which may indicate that its actual stellar internal structure is different from the theoretical one. We derived the nodal precession speed $\dot{\theta }=0.507^{+0.025}_{-0.022}$ deg yr−1, and its period $P_{\mathrm{pre}}=709^{+33}_{-34}$ yr, and found that WASP-33b transits in front of WASP-33 for only ∼ 20 per cent of the entire nodal precession period.
ABSTRACT We report the discovery of K2-31b, the first confirmed transiting hot Jupiter detected by the K2 space mission. We combined K2 photometry with FastCam lucky imaging and FIES and HARPS ...high-resolution spectroscopy to confirm the planetary nature of the transiting object and derived the system parameters. K2-31b is a 1.8-Jupiter-mass planet on a 1.26-day orbit around a G7 V star ( M , R ). The planetary radius is poorly constrained (0.7 < Rp < 1.4 RJup),15 owing to the grazing transit and the low sampling rate of the K2 photometry.16
Direct detection and characterization of Earth-like planets around Sun-like stars is a core task for evaluating the prevalence of habitability and life in the Universe. Here, we discuss a promising ...option for achieving this goal, which is based on placing an occulter in orbit and having it project its shadow onto the E-ELT at the surface of Earth, thus providing a sufficient contrast for imaging and taking spectra of Earth-like planets in the habitable zones of Sun-like stars. Doing so at a sensible fuel budget will require tailored orbits, an occulter with a high area-to-mass ratio, and appropriate instrumentation at the E-ELT. In this White Paper, submitted in response to the ESA Voyage 2050 Call, we outline the fundamental aspects of the concept, and the most important technical developments that will be required to develop a full mission.
(ProQuest: ... denotes formulae and/or non-USASCII text omitted)We report on the discovery and characterization of the transiting planet K2-39b (EPIC 206247743b). With an orbital period of 4.6 days, ...it is the shortest-period planet orbiting a subgiant star known to date. Such planets are rare, with only a handful of known cases. The reason for this is poorly understood but may reflect differences in planet occurrence around the relatively high-mass stars that have been surveyed, or may be the result of tidal destruction of such planets. K2-39 (EPIC 206247743) is an evolved star with a spectroscopically derived stellar radius and mass of ... and ... , respectively, and a very close-in transiting planet, with a/Rlow * = 3.4. Radial velocity (RV) follow-up using the HARPS, FIES, and PFS instruments leads to a planetary mass of ... In combination with a radius measurement of 8.3 + or - 1.1 R+ in circle, this results in a mean planetary density of ... g cm super(-3). We furthermore discover a long-term RV trend, which may be caused by a long-period planet or stellar companion. Because K2-39b has a short orbital period, its existence makes it seem unlikely that tidal destruction is wholly responsible for the differences in planet populations around subgiant and main-sequence stars. Future monitoring of the transits of this system may enable the detection of period decay and constrain the tidal dissipation rates of subgiant stars.
Abstract The nearby LHS 1678 (TOI-696) system contains two confirmed planets and a wide-orbit, likely brown-dwarf companion, which orbit an M2 dwarf with a unique evolutionary history. The host star ...occupies a narrow “gap” in the Hertzsprung–Russell diagram lower main sequence, associated with the M dwarf fully convective boundary and long-term luminosity fluctuations. This system is one of only about a dozen M dwarf multiplanet systems to date that hosts an ultra-short-period planet (USP). Here we validate and characterize a third planet in the LHS 1678 system using TESS Cycle 1 and 3 data and a new ensemble of ground-based light curves. LHS 1678 d is a 0.98 ± 0.07 R ⊕ planet in a 4.97 day orbit, with an insolation flux of 9.1 − 0.8 + 0.9 S ⊕ . These properties place it near 4:3 mean motion resonance with LHS 1678 c and in company with LHS 1678 c in the Venus zone. LHS 1678 c and d are also twins in size and predicted mass, making them a powerful duo for comparative exoplanet studies. LHS 1678 d joins its siblings as another compelling candidate for atmospheric measurements with the JWST and mass measurements using high-precision radial velocity techniques. Additionally, USP LHS 1678 b breaks the “peas-in-a-pod” trend in this system although additional planets could fill in the “pod” beyond its orbit. LHS 1678's unique combination of system properties and their relative rarity among the ubiquity of compact multiplanet systems around M dwarfs makes the system a valuable benchmark for testing theories of planet formation and evolution.
Abstract
The effect of stellar multiplicity on planetary architecture and orbital dynamics provides an important context for exoplanet demographics. We present a volume-limited catalog of up to 300 ...pc of 66 stars hosting planets and planet candidates from Kepler, K2, and TESS with significant Hipparcos-Gaia proper motion anomalies, which indicates the presence of companions. We assess the reliability of each transiting planet candidate using ground-based follow-up observations, and find that the TESS Objects of Interest (TOIs) with significant proper anomalies show nearly four times more false positives due to eclipsing binaries compared to TOIs with marginal proper anomalies. In addition, we find tentative evidence that orbital periods of planets orbiting TOIs with significant proper anomalies are shorter than those orbiting TOIs without significant proper anomalies, consistent with the scenario that stellar companions can truncate planet-forming disks. Furthermore, TOIs with significant proper anomalies exhibit lower Gaia differential velocities in comparison to field stars with significant proper anomalies, suggesting that planets are more likely to form in binary systems with low-mass substellar companions or stellar companions at wider separation. Finally, we characterize the three-dimensional architecture of LTT 1445 ABC using radial velocities, absolute astrometry from Gaia and Hipparcos, and relative astrometry from imaging. Our analysis reveals that LTT 1445 is a nearly flat system, with a mutual inclination of ∼2.°88 between the orbit of BC around A and that of C around B. This coplanarity may explain why multiple planets around LTT 1445 A survive in the dynamically hostile environments of this system.
The Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS) is currently concluding its 2 yr primary science mission searching 85% of the sky for transiting exoplanets. TESS has already discovered well over one ...thousand TESS objects of interest (TOIs), but these candidate exoplanets must be distinguished from astrophysical false positives using other instruments or techniques. The 3-band Multi-color Simultaneous Camera for Studying Atmospheres of Transiting Planets (MuSCAT), as well as the 4-band MuSCAT2, can be used to validate TESS discoveries. Transits of exoplanets are achromatic when observed in multiple bandpasses, while transit depths for false positives often vary with wavelength. We created software tools to simulate MuSCAT/MuSCAT2 TESS follow-up observations and reveal which planet candidates can be efficiently distinguished from blended eclipsing binary (BEB) false positives using these two instruments, and which must be validated using other techniques. We applied our software code to the Barclay et al.predicted TESS discoveries, as well as to TOIs downloaded from the ExoFOP-TESS website. We estimate that MuSCAT (MuSCAT2 values in parentheses) will be able to use its multi-color capabilities to distinguish BEB false positives for ∼17% (∼18%) of all TESS discoveries, and ∼13% (∼15%) of Rpl < 4R⊕ discoveries. Our TOI analysis shows that MuSCAT (MuSCAT2) can distinguish BEB false positives for ∼55% (∼52%) of TOIs with transit depths greater than 0.001, for ∼64% (∼61%) of TOIs with transit depths greater than 0.002, and for ∼70% (∼68%) of TOIs with transit depth greater than 0.003. Our work shows that MuSCAT and MuSCAT2 can validate hundreds of Rpl < 4R⊕ candidate exoplanets, thus supporting the TESS mission in achieving its Level 1 Science Requirement of measuring the masses of 50 exoplanets smaller in size than Neptune. Our software tools will assist scientists as they prioritize and optimize follow-up observations of TOIs.
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