DISCOVERY OF A TRANSITING PLANET NEAR THE SNOW-LINE
Research output: Contribution to journal › Journal article › Research › peer-review
Standard
DISCOVERY OF A TRANSITING PLANET NEAR THE SNOW-LINE. / Kipping, D. M.; Torres, G.; Buchhave, L. A.; Kenyon, S. J.; Henze, C.; Isaacson, H.; Kolbl, R.; Marcy, G. W.; Bryson, S. T.; Stassun, K.; Bastien, F.
In: Astrophysical Journal, Vol. 795, No. 1, 25, 01.11.2014.Research output: Contribution to journal › Journal article › Research › peer-review
Harvard
APA
Vancouver
Author
Bibtex
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
T1 - DISCOVERY OF A TRANSITING PLANET NEAR THE SNOW-LINE
AU - Kipping, D. M.
AU - Torres, G.
AU - Buchhave, L. A.
AU - Kenyon, S. J.
AU - Henze, C.
AU - Isaacson, H.
AU - Kolbl, R.
AU - Marcy, G. W.
AU - Bryson, S. T.
AU - Stassun, K.
AU - Bastien, F.
PY - 2014/11/1
Y1 - 2014/11/1
N2 - In most theories of planet formation, the snow-line represents a boundary between the emergence of the interior rocky planets and the exterior ice giants. The wide separation of the snow-line makes the discovery of transiting worlds challenging, yet transits would allow for detailed subsequent characterization. We present the discovery of Kepler-421b, a Uranus-sized exoplanet transiting a G9/K0 dwarf once every 704.2 days in a near-circular orbit. Using public Kepler photometry, we demonstrate that the two observed transits can be uniquely attributed to the 704.2 day period. Detailed light curve analysis with BLENDER validates the planetary nature of Kepler-421b to >4σ confidence. Kepler-421b receives the same insolation as a body at ~2 AU in the solar system, as well as a Uranian albedo, which would have an effective temperature of ~180 K. Using a time-dependent model for the protoplanetary disk, we estimate that Kepler-421b's present semi-major axis was beyond the snow-line after ~3 Myr, indicating that Kepler-421b may have formed at its observed location.
AB - In most theories of planet formation, the snow-line represents a boundary between the emergence of the interior rocky planets and the exterior ice giants. The wide separation of the snow-line makes the discovery of transiting worlds challenging, yet transits would allow for detailed subsequent characterization. We present the discovery of Kepler-421b, a Uranus-sized exoplanet transiting a G9/K0 dwarf once every 704.2 days in a near-circular orbit. Using public Kepler photometry, we demonstrate that the two observed transits can be uniquely attributed to the 704.2 day period. Detailed light curve analysis with BLENDER validates the planetary nature of Kepler-421b to >4σ confidence. Kepler-421b receives the same insolation as a body at ~2 AU in the solar system, as well as a Uranian albedo, which would have an effective temperature of ~180 K. Using a time-dependent model for the protoplanetary disk, we estimate that Kepler-421b's present semi-major axis was beyond the snow-line after ~3 Myr, indicating that Kepler-421b may have formed at its observed location.
U2 - 10.1088/0004-637X/795/1/25
DO - 10.1088/0004-637X/795/1/25
M3 - Journal article
VL - 795
JO - Astrophysical Journal
JF - Astrophysical Journal
SN - 0004-637X
IS - 1
M1 - 25
ER -
ID: 138906196