The WASP-South search for transiting exoplanets

in EPJ Web of Conferences (2011, February 01), 11

Since 2006 WASP-South has been scanning the Southern sky for transiting exoplanets. Combined with Geneva Observatory radial velocities we have so far found over 30 transiting exoplanets around relatively ... [more ▼]

Since 2006 WASP-South has been scanning the Southern sky for transiting exoplanets. Combined with Geneva Observatory radial velocities we have so far found over 30 transiting exoplanets around relatively bright stars of magnitude 9-13. We present a status report for this ongoing survey. [less ▲]

WASP-30b: a 61 Mjup brown dwarf transiting a V=12, F8 star

in Astrophysical Journal Letters (2011), 726(2), 19

We report the discovery of a 61-Jupiter-mass brown dwarf (BD), which transits its F8V host star, WASP-30, every 4.16 days. From a range of age indicators we estimate the system age to be 1-2 Gyr. We ... [more ▼]

We report the discovery of a 61-Jupiter-mass brown dwarf (BD), which transits its F8V host star, WASP-30, every 4.16 days. From a range of age indicators we estimate the system age to be 1-2 Gyr. We derive a radius (0.89 ± 0.02 R Jup) for the companion that is consistent with that predicted (0.914 R Jup) by a model of a 1 Gyr old, non-irradiated BD with a dusty atmosphere. The location of WASP-30b in the minimum of the mass-radius relation is consistent with the quantitative prediction of Chabrier & Baraffe, thus confirming the theory. [less ▲]

Spin-orbit angle measurements for six southern transiting planets. New insights into the dynamical origins of hot Jupiters

in Astronomy and Astrophysics (2010), 524

Context. Several competing scenarios for planetary-system formation and evolution seek to explain how hot Jupiters came to be so close to their parent stars. Most planetary parameters evolve with time ... [more ▼]

Context. Several competing scenarios for planetary-system formation and evolution seek to explain how hot Jupiters came to be so close to their parent stars. Most planetary parameters evolve with time, making it hard to distinguish between models. The obliquity of an orbit with respect to the stellar rotation axis is thought to be more stable than other parameters such as eccentricity. Most planets, to date, appear aligned with the stellar rotation axis; the few misaligned planets so far detected are massive (> 2 M[SUB]J[/SUB]). <BR /> Aims: Our goal is to measure the degree of alignment between planetary orbits and stellar spin axes, to search for potential correlations with eccentricity or other planetary parameters and to measure long term radial velocity variability indicating the presence of other bodies in the system. <BR /> Methods: For transiting planets, the Rossiter-McLaughlin effect allows the measurement of the sky-projected angle β between the stellar rotation axis and a planet's orbital axis. Using the HARPS spectrograph, we observed the Rossiter-McLaughlin effect for six transiting hot Jupiters found by the WASP consortium. We combine these with long term radial velocity measurements obtained with CORALIE. We used a combined analysis of photometry and radial velocities, fitting model parameters with the Markov Chain Monte Carlo method. After obtaining β we attempt to statistically determine the distribution of the real spin-orbit angle ψ. <BR /> Results: We found that three of our targets have β above 90°: WASP-2b: β = 153°[SUP]+11[/SUP][SUB]-15[/SUB], WASP-15b: β = 139.6°[SUP]+5.2[/SUP][SUB]-4.3[/SUB] and WASP-17b: β = 148.5°[SUP]+5.1[/SUP][SUB]-4.2[/SUB]; the other three (WASP-4b, WASP-5b and WASP-18b) have angles compatible with 0°. We find no dependence between the misaligned angle and planet mass nor with any other planetary parameter. All six orbits are close to circular, with only one firm detection of eccentricity e = 0.00848[SUP]+0.00085[/SUP][SUB]-0.00095[/SUB] in WASP-18b. No long-term radial acceleration was detected for any of the targets. Combining all previous 20 measurements of β and our six and transforming them into a distribution of ψ we find that between about 45 and 85% of hot Jupiters have ψ > 30°. <BR /> Conclusions: Most hot Jupiters are misaligned, with a large variety of spin-orbit angles. We find observations and predictions using the Kozai mechanism match well. If these observational facts are confirmed in the future, we may then conclude that most hot Jupiters are formed from a dynamical and tidal origin without the necessity to use type I or II migration. At present, standard disc migration cannot explain the observations without invoking at least another additional process. Using observations with the high resolution échelle spectrograph HARPS mounted on the ESO 3.6 m (under proposals 072.C-0488, 082.C-0040 & 283.C-5017), and with the high resolution échelle spectrograph CORALIE on the 1.2 m Euler Swiss Telescope, both installed at the ESO La Silla Observatory in Chile.RV data is only available at the CDS via anonymous ftp to cdsarc.u-strasbg.fr (130.79.128.5) or via <A href="http://cdsarc.u-strasbg.fr/viz-bin/qcat?J/A+A/524/A25">http://cdsarc.u-strasbg.fr/viz-bin/qcat?J/A+A/524/A25</A> [less ▲]

WASP-32b: A transiting hot Jupiter planet orbiting a lithium-poor, solar-type star

in Publications of the Astronomical Society of the Pacific [=PASP] (2010), 122(898), 1465-1470

We report the discovery of a transiting planet orbiting the star TYC 2-1155-1. The star, WASP-32, is a moderately bright (V=11.3) solar-type star (Teff=6100 +- 100K, [Fe/H] = -0.13 +- 0.10). The ... [more ▼]

We report the discovery of a transiting planet orbiting the star TYC 2-1155-1. The star, WASP-32, is a moderately bright (V=11.3) solar-type star (Teff=6100 +- 100K, [Fe/H] = -0.13 +- 0.10). The lightcurve of the star obtained with the WASP-South and WASP-North instruments shows periodic transit-like features with a depth of about 1% and a duration of 0.10d every 2.72d. The presence of a transit-like feature in the lightcurve is confirmed using z-band photometry obtained with Faulkes Telescope North. High resolution spectroscopy obtained with the CORALIE spectrograph confirms the presence of a planetary mass companion. From a combined analysis of the spectroscopic and photometric data, assuming that the star is a typical main-sequence star, we estimate that the planet has a mass M_p = 3.60 +- 0.07 M_Jup and a radius R_p = 1.19 +- 0.06R_Jup. WASP-32 is one of a small group of hot Jupiters with masses M_p > 3M_Jup. We find that some stars with hot Jupiter companions and with masses M_* =~ 1.2M_sun, including WASP-32, are depleted in lithium, but that the majority of these stars have similar lithium abundances to field stars. [less ▲]

WASP-8b: a retrograde transiting planet in a multiple system

in Astronomy and Astrophysics (2010), 517

We report the discovery of WASP-8b, a transiting planet of 2.25 ± 0.08 M[SUB]Jup[/SUB] on a strongly inclined eccentric 8.15-day orbit, moving in a retrograde direction to the rotation of its late-G host ... [more ▼]

We report the discovery of WASP-8b, a transiting planet of 2.25 ± 0.08 M[SUB]Jup[/SUB] on a strongly inclined eccentric 8.15-day orbit, moving in a retrograde direction to the rotation of its late-G host star. Evidence is found that the star is in a multiple stellar system with two other companions. The dynamical complexity of the system indicates that it may have experienced secular interactions such as the Kozai mechanism or a formation that differs from the “classical” disc-migration theory. Based on observations made with HARPS spectrograph on the 3.6-m ESO telescope and the EULER Swiss telescope at La Silla Observatory, Chile.Radial velocity data are only available in electronic form at the CDS via anonymous ftp to cdsarc.u-strasbg.fr (130.79.128.5) or via <A href="http://cdsweb.u-strasbg.fr/cgi-bin/qcat?J/A+A/517/L1">http://cdsweb.u-strasbg.fr/cgi-bin/qcat?J/A+A/517/L1</A> [less ▲]

WASP-22 b: A transiting "hot Jupiter" planet in a hierarchical triple system

in Astronomical Journal (The) (2010), 140(6), 2007-2012

We report the discovery of a transiting planet orbiting the star TYC 6446-326-1. The star, WASP-22, is a moderately bright (V=12.0) solar-type star (T_eff = 6000 +/- 100K, [Fe/H]= -0.05 \pm 0.08). The ... [more ▼]

We report the discovery of a transiting planet orbiting the star TYC 6446-326-1. The star, WASP-22, is a moderately bright (V=12.0) solar-type star (T_eff = 6000 +/- 100K, [Fe/H]= -0.05 \pm 0.08). The lightcurve of the star obtained with the WASP-South instrument shows periodic transit-like features with a depth of about 1% and a duration of 0.14d. The presence of a transit-like feature in the lightcurve is confirmed using z-band photometry obtained with Faulkes Telescope South. High resolution spectroscopy obtained with the CORALIE and HARPS spectrographs confirm the presence of a planetary mass companion with an orbital period of 3.533d in a near-circular orbit. From a combined analysis of the spectroscopic and photometric data assuming that the star is a typical main-sequence star we estimate that the planet has a mass M_p = (0.56 +/- 0.02)M_Jup and a radius R_p = (1.12 +/- 0.04)R_Jup. In addition, there is a linear trend of 40m/s/y in the radial velocities measured over 16 months, from which we infer the presence of a third body with a long period orbit in this system. The companion may be a low mass M-dwarf or a second planet. [less ▲]

The thermal emission of the young and massive planet CoRoT-2b at 4.5 and 8 μm

in Astronomy and Astrophysics (2010), 511

We report measurements of the thermal emission of the young and massive planet CoRoT-2b at 4.5 and 8 microns with the Spitzer Infrared Array Camera (IRAC). Our measured occultation depths are 0.510 +- 0 ... [more ▼]

We report measurements of the thermal emission of the young and massive planet CoRoT-2b at 4.5 and 8 microns with the Spitzer Infrared Array Camera (IRAC). Our measured occultation depths are 0.510 +- 0.042 % and 0.41 +- 0.11 % at 4.5 and 8 microns, respectively. In addition to the CoRoT optical measurements, these planet/star flux ratios indicate a poor heat distribution to the night side of the planet and are in better agreement with an atmosphere free of temperature inversion layer. Still, the presence of such an inversion is not definitely ruled out by the observations and a larger wavelength coverage is required to remove the current ambiguity. Our global analysis of CoRoT, Spitzer and ground-based data confirms the large mass and size of the planet with slightly revised values (Mp = 3.47 +- 0.22 Mjup, Rp = 1.466 +- 0.044 Rjup). We find a small but significant offset in the timing of the occultation when compared to a purely circular orbital solution, leading to e cos(omega) = -0.00291 +- 0.00063 where e is the orbital eccentricity and omega is the argument of periastron. Constraining the age of the system to be at most of a few hundreds of Myr and assuming that the non-zero orbital eccentricity is not due to a third undetected body, we model the coupled orbital-tidal evolution of the system with various tidal Q values, core sizes and initial orbital parameters. For log(Q_s') = 5 - 6, our modelling is able to explain the large radius of CoRoT-2b if log(Q_p') <= 5.5 through a transient tidal circularization and corresponding planet tidal heating event. Under this model, the planet will reach its Roche limit within 20 Myr at most. [less ▲]

WASP-17b: an ultra-low density planet in a probable retrograde orbit

in Astrophysical Journal (2010), 709(1), 159-167

We report the discovery of the transiting giant planet WASP-17b, the least-dense planet currently known. It is 1.6 Saturn masses but 1.5-2 Jupiter radii, giving a density of 6-14 per cent that of Jupiter ... [more ▼]

We report the discovery of the transiting giant planet WASP-17b, the least-dense planet currently known. It is 1.6 Saturn masses but 1.5-2 Jupiter radii, giving a density of 6-14 per cent that of Jupiter. WASP-17b is in a 3.7-day orbit around a sub-solar metallicity, V = 11.6, F6 star. Preliminary detection of the Rossiter-McLaughlin effect suggests that WASP-17b is in a retrograde orbit (lambda ~ -150 deg), indicative of a violent history involving planet-planet or planet-star scattering. WASP-17b's bloated radius could be due to tidal heating resulting from recent or ongoing tidal circularisation of an eccentric orbit, such as the highly eccentric orbits that typically result from scattering interactions. It will thus be important to determine more precisely the current orbital eccentricity by further high-precision radial velocity measurements or by timing the secondary eclipse, both to reduce the uncertainty on the planet's radius and to test tidal-heating models. Owing to its low surface gravity, WASP-17b's atmosphere has the largest scale height of any known planet, making it a good target for transmission spectroscopy. [less ▲]

Discovery and characterization of WASP-6b, an inflated sub-Jupiter mass planet transiting a solar-type star

in Astronomy and Astrophysics (2009), 501

We report the discovery of WASP-6b, an inflated sub-Jupiter mass planet transiting every 3.3610060[SUP]+ 0.0000022 [/SUP][SUB]- 0.0000035 [/SUB] days a mildly metal-poor solar-type star of magnitude V ... [more ▼]

We report the discovery of WASP-6b, an inflated sub-Jupiter mass planet transiting every 3.3610060[SUP]+ 0.0000022 [/SUP][SUB]- 0.0000035 [/SUB] days a mildly metal-poor solar-type star of magnitude V = 11.9. A combined analysis of the WASP photometry, high-precision followup transit photometry and radial velocities yield a planetary mass M[SUB]p[/SUB] = 0.503[SUP]+0.019[/SUP][SUB]-0.038[/SUB] M[SUB]J[/SUB] and radius R[SUB]p[/SUB] = 1.224[SUP]+0.051[/SUP][SUB]-0.052[/SUB] R_J, resulting in a density rho[SUB]p[/SUB] = 0.27 ± 0.05 rho_J. The mass and radius for the host star are M_ast = 0.88[SUP]+0.05[/SUP][SUB]-0.08[/SUB] M_o and R_ast = 0.870[SUP]+0.025[/SUP][SUB]-0.036[/SUB] R_o. The non-zero orbital eccentricity e = 0.054^+0.018[SUB]-0.015[/SUB] that we measure suggests that the planet underwent a massive tidal heating 1 Gyr ago that could have contributed to its inflated radius. High-precision radial velocities obtained during a transit allow us to measure a sky-projected angle between the stellar spin and orbital axis beta = 11[SUP]+14[/SUP][SUB]-18[/SUB] deg. In addition to similar published measurements, this result favors a dominant migration mechanism based on tidal interactions with a protoplanetary disk. Based on data collected with the HARPS spectrograph at ESO La Silla Observatory in the programs 082.C-0040(E) and 082.C-0608. The photometric time-series and radial velocities (Tables 4, 5) used in this work are only available in electronic form at the CDS via anonymous ftp to cdsarc.u-strasbg.fr (130.79.128.5) or via http://cdsweb.u-strasbg.fr/cgi-bin/qcat?J/A+A/501/785 [less ▲]

The Masses and Radii of HD186753B and TYC7096-222-1B: The First M-dwarfs known to Eclipse A-type Stars

in Astronomy and Astrophysics (2009)

We present observations of two new single-lined eclipsing binaries, both consisting of an Am star and an M-dwarf, discovered by the Wide Angle Search for Planets transit photometry survey. Using WASP ... [more ▼]

We present observations of two new single-lined eclipsing binaries, both consisting of an Am star and an M-dwarf, discovered by the Wide Angle Search for Planets transit photometry survey. Using WASP photometry and spectroscopic measurements we find that HD186753B has an orbital period of $P=1.9194$ days, a mass of $M=0.24\pm0.02 M_{\odot}$ and radius of $R=0.31^{+0.06}_{-0.06} R_{\odot}$; and that TCY7096-222-1B has an orbital period of $P=8.9582$ days, a mass of between 0.29 and 0.54 $M_{\odot}$ depending on eccentricity and radius of $R=0.263^{+0.02}_{-0.07} R_{\odot}$. We find that the Am stars have relatively low rotational velocities that closely match the orbital velocities of the M-dwarfs, suggesting that they have been "spun-down" by the M-dwarfs. [less ▲]