Photometric follow-up observations of the transiting neptune-mass planet GJ 436b

Avi Shporer, Tsevi Mazeh, Frederic Pont, Joshua N. Winn, Matthew J. Holman, David W. Latham, Gilbert A. Esquerdo

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

22 Scopus citations

Abstract

This paper presents multiband photometric follow-up observations of the Neptune-mass transiting planet GJ436b, consisting of five new ground-based transit light curves obtained in 2007 May. Together with one already published light curve, we have at hand a total of six light curves, spanning 29 days. The analysis of the data yields an orbital period P = 2.64386 ± 0.00003 days, midtransit time Tc [HJD] = 2454235.8355 ± 0.0001, planet mass Mp = 23.1 ± 0.9 M = 0.073 ± 0.003 M Jup, planet radius Rp = 4.2 ± 0.2 R = 0.37 ± 0.01 R Jup, and stellar radius Rs = 0.45 ± 0.02 R . Our typical precision for the midtransit timing for each transit is about 30 s. We searched the data for a possible signature of a second planet in the system through transit timing variations (TTV) and variation of the impact parameter. The analysis could not rule out a small, of the order of a minute, TTV and a long-term modulation of the impact parameter, of the order of +0.2 yr-1.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)1559-1565
Number of pages7
JournalAstrophysical Journal
Volume694
Issue number2
DOIs
StatePublished - 2009
Externally publishedYes

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • Astronomy and Astrophysics
  • Space and Planetary Science

Keywords

  • Planetary systems
  • Stars: individual (GJ 436)

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