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  • Spectrally resolved helium ...
    Allart, R; Bourrier, V; Lovis, C; Ehrenreich, D; Spake, J J; Wyttenbach, A; Pino, L; Pepe, F; Sing, D K; Lecavelier des Etangs, A

    Science (American Association for the Advancement of Science), 12/2018, Letnik: 362, Številka: 6421
    Journal Article

    Stellar heating causes atmospheres of close-in exoplanets to expand and escape. These extended atmospheres are difficult to observe because their main spectral signature-neutral hydrogen at ultraviolet wavelengths-is strongly absorbed by interstellar medium. We report the detection of the near-infrared triplet of neutral helium in the transiting warm Neptune-mass exoplanet HAT-P-11b using ground-based, high-resolution observations. The helium feature is repeatable over two independent transits, with an average absorption depth of 1.08 ± 0.05%. Interpreting absorption spectra with 3D simulations of the planet's upper atmosphere suggests it extends beyond 5 planetary radii, with a large scale height and a helium mass loss rate ≲ 3×10 g‧s A net blue-shift of the absorption might be explained by high-altitude winds flowing at 3 km‧s from day to night-side.