We report a discovery of a companion candidate around one of {it Kepler} Objects of Interest (KOIs), KOI-94, and results of our quantitative investigation of the possibility that planetary candidates around KOI-94 are false positives. KOI-94 has a pl
anetary system in which four planetary detections have been reported by {it Kepler}, suggesting that this system is intriguing to study the dynamical evolutions of planets. However, while two of those detections (KOI-94.01 and 03) have been made robust by previous observations, the others (KOI-94.02 and 04) are marginal detections, for which future confirmations with various techniques are required. We have conducted high-contrast direct imaging observations with Subaru/HiCIAO in $H$ band and detected a faint object located at a separation of $sim0.6$ from KOI-94. The object has a contrast of $sim 1times 10^{-3}$ in $H$ band, and corresponds to an M type star on the assumption that the object is at the same distance of KOI-94. Based on our analysis, KOI-94.02 is likely to be a real planet because of its transit depth, while KOI-94.04 can be a false positive due to the companion candidate. The success in detecting the companion candidate suggests that high-contrast direct imaging observations are important keys to examine false positives of KOIs. On the other hand, our transit light curve reanalyses lead to a better period estimate of KOI-94.04 than that on the KOI catalogue and show that the planetary candidate has the same limb darkening parameter value as the other planetary candidates in the KOI-94 system, suggesting that KOI-94.04 is also a real planet in the system.
We present 5 new transit light curves of GJ 1214b taken in BJHKs-bands. Two transits were observed in B-band using the Suprime-Cam and the FOCAS instruments onboard the Subaru 8.2m telescope, and one transit was done in JHKs-bands simultaneously with
the SIRIUS camera on the IRSF 1.4m telescope. MCMC analyses show that the planet-to-star radius ratios are, Rp/Rs = 0.11651 pm 0.00065 (B-band, Subaru/Suprime-Cam), Rp/Rs = 0.11601 pm 0.00117 (B-band, Subaru/FOCAS), Rp/Rs = 0.11654 pm 0.00080 (J-band, IRSF/SIRIUS), Rp/Rs = 0.11550 ^{+0.00142}_{-0.00153} (H-band, IRSF/SIRIUS), and Rp/Rs = 0.11547 pm 0.00127 (Ks-band, IRSF/SIRIUS). The Subaru Suprime-Cam transit photometry shows a possible spot-crossing feature. Comparisons of the new transit depths and those from previous studies with the theoretical models by Howe & Burrows (2012) suggest that the high molecular weight atmosphere (e.g., 1% H$_2$O + 99% N$_2$) models are most likely, however, the low molecular weight (hydrogen dominated) atmospheres with extensive clouds are still not excluded. We also report a long-term monitoring of the stellar brightness variability of GJ 1214 observed with the MITSuME 50cm telescope in g-, Rc-, and Ic-bands simultaneously. The monitoring was conducted for 32 nights spanning 78 nights in 2012, and we find a periodic brightness variation with a period of Ps = 44.3 pm 1.2 days and semi-amplitudes of 2.1% pm 0.4% in g-band, 0.56% pm 0.08% in Rc-band, and 0.32% pm 0.04% in Ic-band.
We present optical (g, R_c, and I_c) to near-infrared (J) simultaneous photometric observations for a primary transit of GJ3470b, a Uranus-mass transiting planet around a nearby M dwarf, by using the 50-cm MITSuME telescope and the 188-cm telescope,
both at Okayama Astrophysical Observatory. From these data, we derive the planetary mass, radius, and density as 14.1 pm 1.3 M_earth, 4.32^{+0.21}_{-0.10} R_earth, and 0.94 pm 0.12 g cm^{-3}, respectively, thus confirming the low density that was reported by Demory et al. based on the Spitzer/IRAC 4.5-micron photometry (0.72^{+0.13}_{-0.12} g cm^{-3}). Although the planetary radius is about 10% smaller than that reported by Demory et al., this difference does not alter their conclusion that the planet possesses a hydrogen-rich envelope whose mass is approximately 10% of the planetary total mass. On the other hand, we find that the planet-to-star radius ratio (R_p/R_s) in the J band (0.07577^{+0.00072}_{-0.00075}) is smaller than that in the I_c (0.0802 pm 0.0013) and 4.5-micron (0.07806^{+0.00052}_{-0.00054}) bands by 5.9% pm 2.0% and 3.0% pm 1.2%, respectively. A plausible explanation for the differences is that the planetary atmospheric opacity varies with wavelength due to absorption and/or scattering by atmospheric molecules. Although the significance of the observed R_p/R_s variations is low, if confirmed, this fact would suggest that GJ3470b does not have a thick cloud layer in the atmosphere. This property would offer a wealth of opportunity for future transmission-spectroscopic observations of this planet to search for certain molecular features, such as H2O, CH4, and CO, without being prevented by clouds.
We report high precision transit photometry of GJ1214b in JHKs bands taken simultaneously with the SIRIUS camera on the IRSF 1.4m telescope at Sutherland, South Africa. Our MCMC analyses show that the observed planet-to-star radius ratios in JHKs ban
ds are R_{rm p}/R_{rm s,J} = 0.11833 pm 0.00077, R_{rm p}/R_{rm s,H} = 0.11522 pm 0.00079, R_{rm p}/R_{rm s,Ks} = 0.11459 pm 0.00099, respectively. The radius ratios are well consistent with the previous studies by Bean et al. (2011) within 1sigma, while our result in Ks band is shallower than and inconsistent at 4sigma level with the previous measurements in the same band by Croll et al. (2011). We have no good explanation for this discrepancy at this point. Our overall results support a flat transmission spectrum in the observed bands, which can be explained by a water-dominated atmosphere or an atmosphere with extensive high-altitude clouds or haze. To solve the discrepancy of the radius ratios and to discriminate a definitive atmosphere model for GJ1214b in the future, further transit observations around Ks band would be especially important.
We report that HAT-P-7 has a common proper motion stellar companion. The companion is located at $sim3.9$ arcsec to the east and estimated as an M5.5V dwarf based on its colors. We also confirm the presence of the third companion, which was first rep
orted by Winn et al. (2009), based on long-term radial velocity measurements. We revisit the migration mechanism of HAT-P-7b given the presence of those companions, and propose sequential Kozai migration as a likely scenario in this system. This scenario may explain the reason for an outlier in the discussion of the spin-orbit alignment timescale for HAT-P-7b by Albrecht et al. (2012).
We present precise radial velocities of XO-2 taken with the Subaru HDS, covering two transits of XO-2b with an interval of nearly two years. The data suggest that the orbital eccentricity of XO-2b is consistent with zero within 2$sigma$ ($e=0.045pm0.
024$) and the orbit of XO-2b is prograde (the sky-projected spin-orbit alignment angle $lambda=10^{circ}pm72^{circ}$). The poor constraint of $lambda$ is due to a small impact parameter (the orbital inclination of XO-2b is almost 90$^{circ}$). The data also provide an improved estimate of the mass of XO-2b as $0.62pm0.02$ $M_{rm Jup}$. We also find a long-term radial velocity variation in this system. Further radial velocity measurements are necessary to specify the cause of this additional variation.
We have observed 7 new transits of the `hot Jupiter WASP-5b using a 61 cm telescope located in New Zealand, in order to search for transit timing variations (TTVs) which can be induced by additional bodies existing in the system. When combined with o
ther available photometric and radial velocity (RV) data, we find that its transit timings do not match a linear ephemeris; the best fit chi^2 values is 32.2 with 9 degrees of freedom which corresponds to a confidence level of 99.982 % or 3.7 sigma. This result indicates that excess variations of transit timings has been observed, due either to unknown systematic effects or possibly to real TTVs. The TTV amplitude is as large as 50 s, and if this is real, it cannot be explained by other effects than that due to an additional body or bodies. From the RV data, we put an upper limit on the RV amplitude caused by the possible secondary body (planet) as 21 m s^{-1}, which corresponds to its mass of 22-70 M_{Earth} over the orbital period ratio of the two planets from 0.2 to 5.0. From the TTVs data, using the numerical simulations, we place more stringent limits down to 2 M_{Earth} near 1:2 and 2:1 mean motion resonances (MMRs) with WASP-5b at the 3 sigma level, assuming that the two planets are co-planer. We also put an upper limit on excess of Trojan mass as 43 M_{Earth} (3 sigma) using both RV and photometric data. We also find that if the possible secondary planet has non- or a small eccentricity, its orbit would likely be near low-order MMRs. Further follow-up photometric and spectroscopic observations will be required to confirm the reality of the TTV signal, and results such as these will provide important information for the migration mechanisms of planetary systems.
We report photometric and radial velocity observations of the XO-4 transiting planetary system, conducted with the FLWO 1.2m telescope and the 8.2m Subaru Telescope. Based on the new light curves, the refined transit ephemeris of XO-4b is $P = 4.1250
828 pm 0.0000040$ days and $T_c [BJD_TDB] = 2454485.93323 pm 0.00039$. We measured the Rossiter-McLaughlin effect of XO-4b and estimated the sky-projected angle between the stellar spin axis and the planetary orbital axis to be $lambda = -46.7^{circ} ^{+8.1^{circ}}_{-6.1^{circ}}$. This measurement of $lambda$ is less robust than in some other cases because the impact parameter of the transit is small, causing a strong degeneracy between $lambda$ and the projected stellar rotational velocity. Nevertheless, our finding of a spin-orbit misalignment suggests that the migration process for XO-4b involved few-body dynamics rather than interaction with a gaseous disk. In addition, our result conforms with the pattern reported by Winn et al. (2010, ApJL, 718, L145) that high obliquities are preferentially found for stars with effective temperatures hotter than 6250~K.
We present results of direct imaging observations for HAT-P-7 taken with the Subaru HiCIAO and the Calar Alto AstraLux. Since the close-in transiting planet HAT-P-7b was reported to have a highly tilted orbit, massive bodies such as giant planets, br
own dwarfs, or a binary star are expected to exist in the outer region of this system. We show that there are indeed two candidates for distant faint stellar companions around HAT-P-7. We discuss possible roles played by such companions on the orbital evolution of HAT-P-7b. We conclude that as there is a third body in the system as reported by Winn et al. (2009, ApJL, 763, L99), the Kozai migration is less likely while planet-planet scattering is possible.
We present new spectroscopic and photometric observations of the HAT-P-1 planetary system. Spectra obtained during three transits exhibit the Rossiter-McLaughlin effect, allowing us to measure the angle between the sky projections of the stellar spin
axis and orbit normal, lambda = 3.7 +/- 2.1 degrees. The small value of lambda for this and other systems suggests that the dominant planet migration mechanism preserves spin-orbit alignment. Using two new transit light curves, we refine the transit ephemeris and reduce the uncertainty in the orbital period by an order of magnitude. We find a upper limit on the orbital eccentricity of 0.067, with 99% confidence, by combining our new radial-velocity measurements with those obtained previously.
