Two decades ago, empirical evidence concerning the existence and frequency of planets around stars, other than our own, was absent. Since that time, the detection of extrasolar planets from ...Jupiter-sized to, most recently, Earth-sized worlds has blossomed and we are finally able to shed light on the plurality of Earth-like, habitable planets in the cosmos. Extrasolar moons may also be frequently habitable worlds, but their detection or even systematic pursuit remains lacking in the current literature. Here, we present a description of the first systematic search for extrasolar moons as part of a new observational project called "The Hunt for Exomoons with Kepler" (HEK). The HEK project distills the entire list of known transiting planet candidates found by Kepler (2326 at the time of writing) down to the most promising candidates for hosting a moon. Selected targets are fitted using a multimodal nested sampling algorithm coupled with a planet-with-moon light curve modeling routine. By comparing the Bayesian evidence of a planet-only model to that of a planet-with-moon, the detection process is handled in a Bayesian framework. In the case of null detections, upper limits derived from posteriors marginalized over the entire prior volume will be provided to inform the frequency of large moons around viable planetary hosts, eta(ProQuest: Formulae and/or non-USASCII text omitted). After discussing our methodologies for target selection, modeling, fitting, and vetting, we provide two example analyses.
This paper describes the Vartools program, which is an open-source command-line utility, written in C, for analyzing astronomical time-series data, especially light curves. The program provides a ...general-purpose set of tools for processing light curves including signal identification, filtering, light curve manipulation, time conversions, and modeling and simulating light curves. Some of the routines implemented include the Generalized Lomb–Scargle periodogram, the Box-Least Squares transit search routine, the Analysis of Variance periodogram, the Discrete Fourier Transform including the CLEAN algorithm, the Weighted Wavelet Z-Transform, light curve arithmetic, linear and non-linear optimization of analytic functions including support for Markov Chain Monte Carlo analyses with non-trivial covariances, characterizing and/or simulating time-correlated noise, and the TFA and SYSREM filtering algorithms, among others. A mechanism is also provided for incorporating a user’s own compiled processing routines into the program. Vartools is designed especially for batch processing of light curves, including built-in support for parallel processing, making it useful for large time-domain surveys such as searches for transiting planets. Several examples are provided to illustrate the use of the program.
We present a survey of 41 Kepler Objects of Interest (KOIs) for exomoons using Bayesian photodynamics, more than tripling the number of KOIs surveyed with this technique. We find no compelling ...evidence for exomoons although 13 KOIs yield spurious detections driven by instrumental artifacts, stellar activity, and/or perturbations from unseen bodies. Regarding the latter, we find seven KOIs exhibiting >5 sigma evidence of transit timing variations, including the "mega-Earth" Kepler-10c, likely indicating an additional planet in that system. We exploit the moderately large sample of 57 unique KOIs surveyed to date to infer several useful statistics. For example, although there is a diverse range in sensitivities, we find that we are sensitive to Pluto-Charon mass-ratio systems for Asymptotically = to40% of KOIs studied and Earth-Moon mass-ratios for 1 in 8 cases. In terms of absolute mass, our limits probe down to 1.7 Ganymede masses, with a sensitivity to Earth-mass moons for 1 in 3 cases studied and to the smallest moons capable of sustaining an Earth-like atmosphere (0.3 M) for 1 in 4. Despite the lack of positive detections to date, we caution against drawing conclusions yet, since our most interesting objects remain under analysis. Finally, we point out that had we searched for the photometric transit signals of exomoons alone, rather than using photodynamics, we estimate that 1 in 4 KOIs would have erroneously been concluded to harbor exomoons due to residual time correlated noise in the Kepler data, posing a serious problem for alternative methods.
Abstract Recent analyses of the Gaia data have identified diffuse stellar populations surrounding nearby open clusters. It is important to verify that these “halos,” “tails,” and “strings” are of ...similar ages and compositions as stars in the denser part of the cluster. We present an analysis of NGC 2516 (≈150 Myr), which has a classical tidal radius of 10 pc and an apparent halo of stars spanning 500 pc (20° on-sky). Combining photometry from Gaia, rotation periods from TESS, and lithium measurements from Gaia-ESO and GALAH, we find that the halo of NGC 2516 is the same age as the cluster’s core. Two-thirds of kinematically selected halo members out to 250 pc from the cluster center have rotation periods consistent with a gyrochronological age of 150 Myr. A comparison sample of field stars shows no such trend. The lithium abundances of stars in the halo are higher than in the field and correlated with the stellar rotation rate and binarity fraction, as has been noted in other young open clusters. Broadly speaking, this work supports a new paradigm wherein the halos of open clusters are often more populous than their cores. We highlight implications for spectroscopic survey targeting, open cluster dispersal, and planet searches around young stars.
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.
Abstract
We report the discovery of HATS-70b, a transiting brown dwarf at the deuterium burning limit. HATS-70b has a mass of
and a radius of
, residing in a close-in orbit with a period of
days. The ...host star is a
A star rotating at
, enabling us to characterize the spectroscopic transit of the brown dwarf via Doppler tomography. We find that HATS-70b, like other massive planets and brown dwarfs previously sampled, orbits in a low projected-obliquity orbit with
. The low obliquities of these systems is surprising given all brown dwarf and massive planets with obliquities measured orbit stars hotter than the Kraft break. This trend is tentatively inconsistent with dynamically chaotic migration for systems with massive companions, though the stronger tidal influence of these companions makes it difficult to draw conclusions on the primordial obliquity distribution of this population. We also introduce a modeling scheme for planets around rapidly rotating stars, accounting for the influence of gravity darkening on the derived stellar and planetary parameters.
Using data from the Hungarian-made Automated Telescope Network (HATNet) survey for transiting exoplanets, we measure photometric rotation periods for 368 Pleiades stars with 0.4 ≲M≲ 1.3 M⊙. We detect ...periodic variability for 74 per cent of the cluster members in this mass range that are within our field-of-view, and 93 per cent of the members with 0.7 ≲M≲ 1.0 M⊙. This increases, by a factor of 5, the number of Pleiades members with measured periods. We compare these data to the rich sample of spectroscopically determined projected equatorial rotation velocities (v sin i) available in the literature for this cluster. Included in our sample are 14 newly identified probable cluster members which have proper motions, photometry and rotation periods consistent with membership. For stars with M≳ 0.85 M⊙ the rotation periods, v sin i and radius estimates are consistent with the stars having an isotropic distribution of rotation axes, if a moderate differential rotation law is assumed. For stars with M≲ 0.85 M⊙, the inferred sin i values are systematically larger than 1.0. These observations imply that the combination of measured parameters P(v sin i)/R is too large by ∼ 24 per cent for low-mass stars in this cluster. By comparing our new mass–period relation for the Pleiades to the slightly older cluster M35, we confirm previous indications that the spin-down stalls at ∼ 100 Myr for the slowest rotating stars with 0.7 ≲M≲ 1.1 M⊙– a fact which may indicate that the internal transport of angular momentum is inefficient in slowly rotating solar-mass stars.
With their smaller radii and high cosmic abundance, transiting planets around cool stars hold a unique appeal. As part of our ongoing project to measure the occurrence rate of extrasolar moons, in ...this work we present results from a survey focusing on eight Kepler planetary candidates associated withMdwarfs. Using photodynamical modeling and Bayesian multimodal nested sampling, we find no compelling evidence for an exomoon in these eight systems. Upper limits on the presence of such bodies probe down to masses of ~0.4 M sub(+ in circle) in the best case. For KOI-314, we are able to confirm the planetary nature of two out of the three known transiting candidates using transit timing variations. Of particular interest is KOI-314c, which is found to have a mass of 1.0 super(+0.4) sub(-0.3) M sub(+ in circle), making it the lowest mass transiting planet discovered to date. With a radius of 1.61 super(+0.16) - sub(0.15) R sub(+ in circle), this Earth-mass world is likely enveloped by a significant gaseous envelope comprising > or =, slanted 17 super(+12) sub(-13)% of the planet by radius. We also find evidence to support the planetary nature of KOI-784 via transit timing, but we advocate further observations to verify the signals. In both systems, we infer that the inner planet has a higher density than the outer world, which may be indicative of photo-evaporation. These results highlight both the ability of Kepler to search for sub-Earth-mass moons and the exciting ancillary science that often results from such efforts.
The Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS) is providing precise time-series photometry for most star clusters in the solar neighborhood. Using the TESS images, we have begun a Cluster ...Difference Imaging Photometric Survey, in which we are focusing both on stars that are candidate cluster members and on stars that show indications of youth. Our aims are to discover giant transiting planets with known ages, and to provide light curves suitable for studies in stellar astrophysics. For this work, we made 159,343 light curves of candidate young stars, across 596 distinct clusters. Each light curve represents between 20 and 25 days of observations of a star brighter than GRp = 16, with 30-minute sampling. We describe the image-subtraction and time-series analysis techniques we used to create the light curves, which have noise properties that agree with theoretical expectations. We also comment on the possible utility of the light-curve sample for studies of stellar rotation evolution and binary eccentricity damping. The light curves, which cover about one-sixth of the galactic plane, are available at archive.stsci.edu/hlsp/cdips.
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