We present the detection and characterization of the transiting warm Jupiter KOI-12b, first identified with Kepler with an orbital period of 17.86 days. We combine the analysis of Kepler photometry with Doppler spectroscopy and line-profile tomograph
y of time-series spectra obtained with the SOPHIE spectrograph to establish its planetary nature and derive its properties. To derive reliable estimates for the uncertainties on the tomographic model parameters, we devised an empirical method to calculate statistically independent error bars on the time-series spectra. KOI-12b has a radius of 1.43$pm$0.13$ R_mathrm{Jup}$ and a 3$sigma$ upper mass limit of 10$M_mathrm{Jup}$. It orbits a fast-rotating star ($v$sin$i_{star}$ = 60.0$pm$0.9 km s$^{-1}$) with mass and radius of 1.45$pm$0.09 $M_mathrm{Sun}$ and 1.63$pm$0.15 $R_mathrm{Sun}$, located at 426$pm$40 pc from the Earth. Doppler tomography allowed a higher precision on the obliquity to be reached by comparison with the analysis of the Rossiter-McLaughlin radial velocity anomaly, and we found that KOI-12b lies on a prograde, slightly misaligned orbit with a low sky-projected obliquity $lambda$ = 12.6$stackrel{+3.0}{_{-2.9}}^circ$. The properties of this planetary system, with a 11.4 magnitude host-star, make of KOI-12b a precious target for future atmospheric characterization.
Atomic hydrogen escaping from the planet HD209458b provides the largest observational signature ever detected for an extrasolar planet atmosphere. However, the Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (STIS) used in previous observational studies is no l
onger available, whereas additional observations are still needed to better constrain the mechanisms subtending the evaporation process, and determine the evaporation state of other `hot Jupiters. Here, we aim to detect the extended hydrogen exosphere of HD209458b with the Advanced Camera for Surveys (ACS) on board the Hubble Space Telescope (HST) and to find evidence for a hydrogen comet-like tail trailing the planet, which size would depend on the escape rate and the amount of ionizing radiation emitted by the star. These observations also provide a benchmark for other transiting planets, in the frame of a comparative study of the evaporation state of close-in giant planets. Eight HST orbits are used to observe two transits of HD209458b. Transit light curves are obtained by performing photometry of the unresolved stellar Lyman-alpha emission line during both transits. Absorption signatures of exospheric hydrogen during the transit are compared to light curve models predicting a hydrogen tail. Transit depths of (9.6 +/- 7.0)% and (5.3 +/- 10.0)% are measured on the whole Lyman-alpha line in visits 1 and 2, respectively. Averaging data from both visits, we find an absorption depth of (8.0 +/- 5.7)%, in good agreement with previous studies. The extended size of the exosphere confirms that the planet is likely loosing hydrogen to space. Yet, the photometric precision achieved does not allow us to better constrain the hydrogen mass loss rate.
We present Spitzer Space Telescope observations of the extrasolar planet HD189733b primary transit, obtained simultaneously at 3.6 and 5.8 microns with the Infrared Array Camera. The system parameters, including planetary radius, stellar radius, and
impact parameter are derived from fits to the transit light curves at both wavelengths. We measure two consistent planet-to-star radius ratios, (Rp/Rs)[3.6$mu$m] = 0.1560 +/- 0.0008(stat) +/- 0.0002(syst) and (Rp/Rs)[5.8$mu$m] = 0.1541 +/- 0.0009(stat) +/- 0.0009(syst), which include both the random and systematic errors in the transit baseline. Although planet radii are determined at 1%-accuracy, if all uncertainties are taken into account the resulting error bars are still too large to allow for the detection of atmospheric constituants like water vapour. This illustrates the need to observe multiple transits with the longest possible out-of-transit baseline, in order to achieve the precision required by transmission spectroscopy of giant extrasolar planets.
