Subscribe to the gold package and get unlimited access to Shamra Academy
Register a new userThe Orbit of WASP-12b is Decaying
153
0
0.0
(
0
)
Ask ChatGPT about the research
No Arabic abstract
WASP-12b is a transiting hot Jupiter on a 1.09-day orbit around a late-F star. Since the planets discovery in 2008, the time interval between transits has been decreasing by $29pm 2$ msec year$^{-1}$. This is a possible sign of orbital decay, although the previously available data left open the possibility that the planets orbit is slightly eccentric and is undergoing apsidal precession. Here, we present new transit and occultation observations that provide more decisive evidence for orbital decay, which is favored over apsidal precession by a $Deltamathrm{BIC}$ of 22.3 or Bayes factor of 70,000. We also present new radial-velocity data that rule out the R{o}mer effect as the cause of the period change. This makes WASP-12 the first planetary system for which we can be confident that the orbit is decaying. The decay timescale for the orbit is $P/dot{P} = 3.25pm 0.23$ Myr. Interpreting the decay as the result of tidal dissipation, the modified stellar tidal quality factor is $Q_star = 1.8 times10^{5}$.
rate research
Read More
Near ultraviolet observations of WASP-12b have revealed an early ingress compared to the optical transit lightcurve. This has been interpreted as due to the presence of a magnetospheric bow shock which forms when the relative velocity of the planetary and stellar material is supersonic. We aim to reproduce this observed early ingress by modelling the stellar wind (or coronal plasma) in order to derive the speed and density of the material at the planetary orbital radius. From this we determine the orientation of the shock and the density of compressed plasma behind it. With this model for the density structure surrounding the planet we perform Monte Carlo radiation transfer simulations of the near UV transits of WASP-12b with and without a bow shock. We find that we can reproduce the transit lightcurves with a wide range of plasma temperatures, shock geometries and optical depths. Our results support the hypothesis that a bow shock could explain the observed early ingress.
The exoplanet WASP-12b is the prototype for the emerging class of ultra-hot, Jupiter-mass exoplanets. Past models have predicted---and near ultra-violet observations have shown---that this planet is losing mass. We present an analysis of two sets of 3.6 $mu$m and 4.5 $mu$m $textit{Spitzer}$ phase curve observations of the system which show clear evidence of infrared radiation from gas stripped from the planet, and the gas appears to be flowing directly toward or away from the host star. This accretion signature is only seen at 4.5 $mu$m, not at 3.6 $mu$m, which is indicative either of CO emission at the longer wavelength or blackbody emission from cool, $lesssim$ 600 K gas. It is unclear why WASP-12b is the only ultra-hot Jupiter to exhibit this mass loss signature, but perhaps WASP-12bs orbit is decaying as some have claimed, while the orbits of other exoplanets may be more stable; alternatively, the high energy irradiation from WASP-12A may be stronger than the other host stars. We also find evidence for phase offset variability at the level of $6.4sigma$ ($46.2^{circ}$) at 3.6 $mu$m.
[Abridged] We report Warm Spitzer full-orbit phase observations of WASP-12b at 3.6 and 4.5 micron. We are able to measure the transit depths, eclipse depths, thermal and ellipsoidal phase variations at both wavelengths. The large amplitude phase variations, combined with the planets previously-measured day-side spectral energy distribution, is indicative of non-zero Bond albedo and very poor day-night heat redistribution. The transit depths in the mid-infrared indicate that the atmospheric opacity is greater at 3.6 than at 4.5 micron, in disagreement with model predictions, irrespective of C/O ratio. The secondary eclipse depths are consistent with previous studies. We do not detect ellipsoidal variations at 3.6 micron, but our parameter uncertainties -estimated via prayer-bead Monte Carlo- keep this non-detection consistent with model predictions. At 4.5 micron, on the other hand, we detect ellipsoidal variations that are much stronger than predicted. If interpreted as a geometric effect due to the planets elongated shape, these variations imply a 3:2 ratio for the planets longest:shortest axes and a relatively bright day-night terminator. If we instead presume that the 4.5 micron ellipsoidal variations are due to uncorrected systematic noise and we fix the amplitude of the variations to zero, the best fit 4.5 micron transit depth becomes commensurate with the 3.6 micron depth, within the uncertainties. The relative transit depths are then consistent with a Solar composition and short scale height at the terminator. Assuming zero ellipsoidal variations also yields a much deeper 4.5 micron eclipse depth, consistent with a Solar composition and modest temperature inversion. We suggest future observations that could distinguish between these two scenarios.
We report the detection of the eclipse of the very-hot Jupiter WASP-12b via z-band time-series photometry obtained with the 3.5-meter ARC telescope at Apache Point Observatory. We measure a decrease in flux of 0.082+/-0.015% during the passage of the planet behind the star. That planetary flux is equally well reproduced by atmospheric models with and without extra absorbers, and blackbody models with f > 0.585+/-0.080. It is therefore necessary to measure the planet at other wavelengths to further constrain its atmospheric properties. The eclipse appears centered at phase = 0.5100 (+0.0072,-0.0061), consistent with an orbital eccentricity of |e cos w| = 0.016 (+0.011,-0.009) (see note at end of Section 4). If the orbit of the planet is indeed eccentric, the large radius of WASP-12b can be explained by tidal heating.
We present precise radial-velocity measurements of WASP-1 and WASP-2 throughout transits of their giant planets. Our goal was to detect the Rossiter-McLaughlin (RM) effect, the anomalous radial velocity observed during eclipses of rotating stars, which can be used to study the obliquities of planet-hosting stars. For WASP-1 a weak signal of a prograde orbit was detected with ~2sigma confidence, and for WASP-2 no signal was detected. The resulting upper bounds on the RM amplitude have different implications for these two systems, because of the contrasting transit geometries and the stellar types. Because WASP-1 is an F7V star, and such stars are typically rapid rotators, the most probable reason for the suppression of the RM effect is that the star is viewed nearly pole-on. This implies the WASP-1 star has a high obliquity with respect to the edge-on planetary orbit. Because WASP-2 is a K1V star, and is expected to be a slow rotator, no firm conclusion can be drawn about the stellar obliquity. Our data and our analysis contradict an earlier claim that WASP-2b has a retrograde orbit, thereby revoking this systems status as an exception to the pattern that cool stars have low obliquities.
Log in to be able to interact and post comments
comments
Fetching comments
Sign in to be able to follow your search criteria
