Context . The TOI-421 planetary system contains two sub-Neptune-type planets ( P b ~ 5.2 days, T eq , b ~ 900 K, and P c ~ 16.1 days, T eq,c ~ 650 K) and is a prime target to study the formation and ...evolution of planets and their atmospheres. The inner planet is especially interesting as the existence of a hydrogen-dominated atmosphere at its orbital separation cannot be explained by current formation models without previous orbital migration. Aims . We aim to improve the system parameters to further use them to model the interior structure and simulate the atmospheric evolution of both planets, to finally gain insights into their formation and evolution. We also investigate the possibility of detecting transit timing variations (TTVs). Methods . We jointly analysed photometric data of three TESS sectors and six CHEOPS visits as well as 156 radial velocity data points to retrieve improved planetary parameters. We also searched for TTVs and modelled the interior structure of the planets. Finally, we simulated the evolution of the primordial H-He atmospheres of the planets using two different modelling frameworks. Results . We determine the planetary radii and masses of TOI-421 b and c to be R b = 2.64 ± 0.08 R ⊕ , M b = 6.7 ± 0.6 M ⊕ , R c = 5.09 ± 0.07 R ⊕ , and M c = 14.1 ± 1.4 M ⊕ . Using these results we retrieved average planetary densities of ρ b = 0.37 ± 0.05 ρ ⊕ and ρ c = 0.107 ± 0.012 ρ ⊕ . We do not detect any statistically significant TTV signals. Assuming the presence of a hydrogen-dominated atmosphere, the interior structure modelling results in both planets having extensive envelopes. While the modelling of the atmospheric evolution predicts for TOI-421 b to have lost any primordial atmosphere that it could have accreted at its current orbital position, TOI-421 c could have started out with an initial atmospheric mass fraction somewhere between 10 and 35%. Conclusions . We conclude that the low observed mean density of TOI-421 b can only be explained by either a bias in the measured planetary parameters (e.g. driven by high-altitude clouds) and/or in the context of orbital migration. We also find that the results of atmospheric evolution models are strongly dependent on the employed planetary structure model.
Here we report large-amplitude transit timing variations (TTVs) for AU Microcopii b and c as detected in combined TESS (2018, 2020) and CHEOPS (2020, 2021) transit observations. AU Mic is a young ...planetary system with a debris disk and two transiting warm Neptunes. A TTV on the order of several minutes was previously reported for AU Mic b, which was suggested to be an outcome of mutual perturbations between the planets in the system. In 2021, we observed AU Mic b (five transits) and c (three transits) with the CHEOPS space telescope to follow-up the TTV of AU Mic b and possibly detect a TTV for AU Mic c. When analyzing TESS and CHEOPS 2020−2021 measurements together, we find that a prominent TTV emerges with a full span of ≥23 min between the two TTV extrema. Assuming that the period change results from a periodic process –such as mutual perturbations– we demonstrate that the times of transits in the summer of 2022 are expected to be 30−85 min later than predicted by the available linear ephemeris.
Context.
Stellar granulation generates fluctuations in photometric and spectroscopic data whose properties depend on the stellar type, composition, and evolutionary state. Characterizing granulation ...is key for understanding stellar atmospheres and detecting planets.
Aims.
We aim to detect the signatures of stellar granulation, link spectroscopic and photometric signatures of convection for main-sequence stars, and test predictions from 3D hydrodynamic models.
Methods.
For the first time, we observed two bright stars (
T
eff
= 5833 and 6205 K) with high-precision observations taken simultaneously with CHEOPS and ESPRESSO. We analyzed the properties of the stellar granulation signal in each individual dataset. We compared them to
Kepler
observations and 3D hydrodynamic models. While isolating the granulation-induced changes by attenuating and filtering the
p
-mode oscillation signals, we studied the relationship between photometric and spectroscopic observables.
Results.
The signature of stellar granulation is detected and precisely characterized for the hotter F star in the CHEOPS and ESPRESSO observations. For the cooler G star, we obtain a clear detection in the CHEOPS dataset only. The TESS observations are blind to this stellar signal. Based on CHEOPS observations, we show that the inferred properties of stellar granulation are in agreement with both
Kepler
observations and hydrodynamic models. Comparing their periodograms, we observe a strong link between spectroscopic and photometric observables. Correlations of this stellar signal in the time domain (flux versus radial velocities, RV) and with specific spectroscopic observables (shape of the cross-correlation functions) are however difficult to isolate due to S/N dependent variations.
Conclusions.
In the context of the upcoming PLATO mission and the extreme precision RV surveys, a thorough understanding of the properties of the stellar granulation signal is needed. The CHEOPS and ESPRESSO observations pave the way for detailed analyses of this stellar process.
Context. WASP-76 b has been a recurrent subject of study since the detection of a signature in high-resolution transit spectroscopy data indicating an asymmetry between the two limbs of the planet. ...The existence of this asymmetric signature has been confirmed by multiple studies, but its physical origin is still under debate. In addition, it contrasts with the absence of asymmetry reported in the infrared (IR) phase curve. Aims. We provide a more comprehensive dataset of WASP-76 b with the goal of drawing a complete view of the physical processes at work in this atmosphere. In particular, we attempt to reconcile visible high-resolution transit spectroscopy data and IR broadband phase curves. Methods. We gathered 3 phase curves, 20 occultations, and 6 transits for WASP-76 b in the visible with the CHEOPS space telescope. We also report the analysis of three unpublished sectors observed by the TESS space telescope (also in the visible), which represents 34 phase curves. Results. WASP-76 b displays an occultation of 260 ± 11 and 152 ± 10 ppm in TESS and CHEOPS bandpasses respectively. Depending on the composition assumed for the atmosphere and the data reduction used for the IR data, we derived geometric albedo estimates that range from 0.05 ± 0.023 to 0.146 ± 0.013 and from <0.13 to 0.189 ± 0.017 in the CHEOPS and TESS bandpasses, respectively. As expected from the IR phase curves, a low-order model of the phase curves does not yield any detectable asymmetry in the visible either. However, an empirical model allowing for sharper phase curve variations offers a hint of a flux excess before the occultation, with an amplitude of ~40 ppm, an orbital offset of ~ −30°, and a width of ~20º. We also constrained the orbital eccentricity of WASP-76 b to a value lower than 0.0067, with a 99.7% confidence level. This result contradicts earlier proposed scenarios aimed at explaining the asymmetry observed in high-resolution transit spectroscopy. Conclusions. In light of these findings, we hypothesise that WASP-76 b could have night-side clouds that extend predominantly towards its eastern limb. At this limb, the clouds would be associated with spherical droplets or spherically shaped aerosols of an unknown species, which would be responsible for a glory effect in the visible phase curves.
Context
. TOI-732 is an M dwarf hosting two transiting planets that are located on the two opposite sides of the radius valley. Inferring a reliable demographics for this type of systems is key to ...understanding their formation and evolution mechanisms.
Aims
. By doubling the number of available space-based observations and increasing the number of radial velocity (RV) measurements, we aim at refining the parameters of TOI-732 b and c. We also use the results to study the slope of the radius valley and the density valley for a well-characterised sample of M-dwarf exoplanets.
Methods
. We performed a global Markov chain Monte Carlo analysis by jointly modelling ground-based light curves and CHEOPS and TESS observations, along with RV time series both taken from the literature and obtained with the MAROON-X spectrograph. The slopes of the M-dwarf valleys were quantified via a support vector machine (SVM) procedure.
Results
. TOI-732b is an ultrashort-period planet (
P
= 0.76837931
-0.00000042
+0.0000039
days) with a radius
R
b
= 1.325
-0.058
+0.057
R
⊕
, a mass
M
b
= 2.46 ± 0.19
M
⊕
, and thus a mean density
ρ
b
= 5.8
-0.8
+1.0
g cm
-3
, while the outer planet at
P
= 12.252284 ± 0.000013 days has
R
c
= 2.39
-0.11
+0.10
R
⊕
,
M
c
= 8.04
-0.48
+0.50
M
⊕
, and thus
ρ
c
= 3.24
-0.43
+0.55
g cm
-3
. Even with respect to the most recently reported values, this work yields uncertainties on the transit depths and on the RV semi-amplitudes that are smaller up to a factor of ~1.6 and ~2.4 for TOI-732 b and c, respectively. Our calculations for the interior structure and the location of the planets in the mass-radius diagram lead us to classify TOI-732 b as a super-Earth and TOI-732 c as a mini-Neptune. Following the SVM approach, we quantified d log
R
p,valley
/ d log
P
= -0.065
-0.013
+0.024
, which is flatter than for Sun-like stars. In line with former analyses, we note that the radius valley for M-dwarf planets is more densely populated, and we further quantify the slope of the density valley as d log ρ^
valley
/ d log
P
= -0.02
-0.04
+0.12
.
Conclusions
. Compared to FGK stars, the weaker dependence of the position of the radius valley on the orbital period might indicate that the formation shapes the radius valley around M dwarfs more strongly than the evolution mechanisms.
HIP 41378 d is a long-period planet that has only been observed to transit twice, three years apart, with K2. According to stability considerations and a partial detection of the Rossiter–McLaughlin ...effect, P d = 278.36 d has been determined to be the most likely orbital period. We targeted HIP 41378 d with CHEOPS at the predicted transit timing based on P d = 278.36 d, but the observations show no transit. We find that large (> 22.4 h) transit timing variations (TTVs) could explain this non-detection during the CHEOPS observation window. We also investigated the possibility of an incorrect orbital solution, which would have major implications for our knowledge of this system. If P d ≠ 278.36 d, the periods that minimize the eccentricity would be 101.22 d and 371.14 d. The shortest orbital period will be tested by TESS, which will observe HIP 41378 in Sector 88 starting in January 2025. Our study shows the importance of a mission like CHEOPS, which today is the only mission able to make long observations (i.e., from space) to track the ephemeris of long-period planets possibly affected by large TTVs.
Context . Multiwavelength photometry of the secondary eclipses of extrasolar planets is able to disentangle the reflected and thermally emitted light radiated from the planetary dayside. Based on ...this, we can measure the planetary geometric albedo A g , which is an indicator of the presence of clouds in the atmosphere, and the recirculation efficiency ϵ , which quantifies the energy transport within the atmosphere. Aims . We measure A g and ϵ for the planet WASP-178 b, a highly irradiated giant planet with an estimated equilibrium temperature of 2450 K. Methods . We analyzed archival spectra and the light curves collected by CHEOPS and TESS to characterize the host WASP-178, refine the ephemeris of the system, and measure the eclipse depth in the passbands of the two telescopes. Results . We measured a marginally significant eclipse depth of 70 ± 40 ppm in the TESS passband, and a statistically significant depth of 70 ± 20 ppm in the CHEOPS passband. Conclusions . Combining the eclipse-depth measurement in the CHEOPS ( λ eff = 6300 Å) and TESS ( λ eff = 8000 Å) passbands, we constrained the dayside brightness temperature of WASP-178 b in the 2250–2800 K interval. The geometric albedo 0.1< A g <0.35 generally supports the picture that giant planets are poorly reflective, while the recirculation efficiency ϵ >0.7 makes WASP-178 b an interesting laboratory for testing the current heat-recirculation models.
Among the hundreds of known hot Jupiters (HJs), only five have been found to have companions on short-period orbits. Within this rare class of multiple planetary systems, the architecture of WASP-47 ...is unique, hosting an HJ (planet-b) with both an inner and an outer sub-Neptunian mass companion (-e and -d, respectively) as well as an additional non-transiting, long-period giant (-c). The small period ratio between planets -b and -d boosts the transit time variation (TTV) signal, making it possible to reliably measure the masses of these planets in synergy with the radial velocity (RV) technique. In this paper, we present new space- and ground-based photometric data of WASP-47b and WASP-47-d, including 11 unpublished light curves from the ESA mission CHaracterising ExOPlanet Satellite (CHEOPS). We analyzed the light curves in a homogeneous way together with all the publicly available data to carry out a global N -body dynamical modeling of the TTV and RV signals. We retrieved, among other parameters, a mass and density for planet -d of M d = 15.5 ± 0.8 M ⊕ and ρ d = 1.69 ± 0.22 g cm −3 , which is in good agreement with the literature and consistent with a Neptune-like composition. For the inner planet (-e), we found a mass and density of M e = 9.0 ± 0.5 M ⊕ and ρ e = 8.1 ± 0.5 g cm −3 , suggesting an Earth-like composition close to other ultra-hot planets at similar irradiation levels. Though this result is in agreement with previous RV plus TTV studies, it is not in agreement with the most recent RV analysis (at 2.8 σ ), which yielded a lower density compatible with a pure silicate composition. This discrepancy highlights the still unresolved issue of suspected systematic offsets between RV and TTV measurements. In this paper, we also significantly improve the orbital ephemerides of all transiting planets, which will be crucial for any future follow-up.
Context . Ultra-hot Jupiters present a unique opportunity to understand the physics and chemistry of planets, their atmospheres, and interiors at extreme conditions. WASP-12 b stands out as an ...archetype of this class of exoplanets, with a close-in orbit around its star that results in intense stellar irradiation and tidal effects. Aims . The goals are to measure the planet’s tidal deformation, atmospheric properties, and also to refine its orbital decay rate. Methods . We performed comprehensive analyses of the transits, occultations, and phase curves of WASP-12b by combining new CHEOPS observations with previous TESS and Spitzer data. The planet was modeled as a triaxial ellipsoid parameterized by the second-order fluid Love number of the planet, h 2 , which quantifies its radial deformation and provides insight into the interior structure. Results . We measured the tidal deformation of WASP-12b and estimated a Love number of h 2 = 1.55 −0.49 +0.45 (at 3.2σ) from its phase curve. We measured occultation depths of 333 ± 24 ppm and 493 ± 29 ppm in the CHEOPS and TESS bands, respectively, while the nightside fluxes are consistent with zero, and also marginal eastward phase offsets. Our modeling of the dayside emission spectrum indicates that CHEOPS and TESS probe similar pressure levels in the atmosphere at a temperature of ~2900 K. We also estimated low geometric albedos of A g = 0.086 ± 0.017 and A g = 0.01 ± 0.023 in the CHEOPS and TESS passbands, respectively, suggesting the absence of reflective clouds in the high-temperature dayside of the planet. The CHEOPS occultations do not show strong evidence for variability in the dayside atmosphere of the planet at the median occultation depth precision of 120 ppm attained. Finally, combining the new CHEOPS timings with previous measurements refines the precision of the orbital decay rate by 12% to a value of −30.23 ± 0.82 ms yr −1 , resulting in a modified stellar tidal quality factor of Q ′ ★ = 1.70 ± 0.14 × 10 5 . Conclusions . WASP-12 b becomes the second exoplanet, after WASP-103b, for which the Love number has been measured from the effect of tidal deformation in the light curve. However, constraining the core mass fraction of the planet requires measuring h 2 with a higher precision. This can be achieved with high signal-to-noise observations with JWST since the phase curve amplitude, and consequently the induced tidal deformation effect, is higher in the infrared.
Planets observed with CHEOPS Fridlund, M; Georgieva, I Y; Bonfanti, A ...
Astronomy and astrophysics (Berlin),
04/2024, Letnik:
684
Journal Article
Recenzirano
Odprti dostop
Context. M-dwarf stars are the most common of potential exoplanet host stars in the Galaxy. It is therefore very important to understand planetary systems orbiting such stars and to determine the ...physical parameters of such planets with high precision. Also with the launch of the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) the observation of atmospheric parameters of planets orbiting these stars has begun. It is therefore required to determine properties of potential targets. Aims. Two planets around the red dwarf TOI-776 were detected by TESS. The objective of our study was to use transit observations obtained by the CHEOPS space mission to improve the current precision of the planetary radii, as well as additional radial velocity (RV) data in order to improve mass estimates of the two planets. Using these quantities, we wanted to derive the bulk densities of those planets, improving the precision in earlier results, and use this information to put them in context of other exoplanetary systems involving very low mass stars. Methods. Utilizing new transit data from the CHEOPS satellite and its photometric telescope, we obtained very high precision planetary transit measurements. Interpretation of these provides updated planetary radii, along with other system parameters. A concurrent ESO large observing program using the high precision spectrograph HARPS has doubled the available radial velocity data. Calculating the power spectrum of a number of stellar activity indices we update the previously estimated stellar rotation period to a lower value. Results. The CHEOPS data provide precise transit depths of 909 and 1177 ppm translating into radii of Rb = 1.798−0.077+0.078 R⊕ and Rc = 2.047−0.078+0.081 R⊕, respectively. Our interpretation of the radial velocities and activity indicator time series data estimates a stellar rotation period for this early M dwarf of ~21.1 days. A further multi-dimensional Gaussian process approach confirm this new estimate. By performing a Skew-Normal (SN) fit onto the Cross Correlation Functions we extracted the RV data and the activity indicators to estimate the planetary masses, obtaining Mb = 5.0−1.6+1.6 M⊕ and Mc = 6.9−2.5+2.6 M⊕. Conclusions. We improve the precision in planetary radius for TOI-776 b and c by a factor of more than two. Our data and modelling give us parameters of both bodies consistent with mini-Neptunes, albeit with a relatively high density. The stellar activity of TOI-776 is found to have increased by a factor larger than 2 since the last set of observations.
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