TY - JOUR
T1 - TESS observations of the WASP-121 b phase curve
AU - Daylan, Tansu
AU - Günther, Maximilian N.
AU - Mikal-Evans, Thomas
AU - Sing, David K.
AU - Wong, Ian
AU - Shporer, Avi
AU - Niraula, Prajwal
AU - De Wit, Julien
AU - Koll, Daniel D.B.
AU - Parmentier, Vivien
AU - Fetherolf, Tara
AU - Kane, Stephen R.
AU - Ricker, George R.
AU - Vanderspek, Roland
AU - Seager, S.
AU - Winn, Joshua N.
AU - Jenkins, Jon M.
AU - Caldwell, Douglas A.
AU - Charbonneau, David
AU - Henze, Christopher E.
AU - Paegert, Martin
AU - Rinehart, Stephen
AU - Rose, Mark
AU - Sha, Lizhou
AU - Quintana, Elisa
AU - Villasenor, Jesus Noel
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2021. The American Astronomical Society. All rights reserved.
PY - 2021/3/1
Y1 - 2021/3/1
N2 - We study the red-optical photometry of the ultrahot Jupiter WASP-121 b as observed by the Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS) and model its atmosphere through a radiative transfer simulation. Given its short orbital period of ∼1.275 days, inflated state, and bright host star, WASP-121 b is exceptionally favorable for detailed atmospheric characterization. Toward this purpose, we use allesfitter to characterize its full red-optical phase curve, including the planetary phase modulation and secondary eclipse. We measure the day- and nightside brightness temperatures in the TESS passband as 3012-+4240 and 2022-+602254 K, respectively, and do not find a statistically significant phase shift between the brightest and substellar points. This is consistent with inefficient heat recirculation on the planet. We then perform an atmospheric retrieval analysis to infer the dayside atmospheric properties of WASP-121 b, such as its bulk composition, albedo, and heat recirculation. We confirm the temperature inversion in the atmosphere and suggest H-, TiO, and VO as potential causes of the inversion, absorbing heat at optical wavelengths at low pressures. Future Hubble Space Telescope and James Webb Space Telescope observations of WASP-121 b will benefit from its first full phase curve measured by TESS.
AB - We study the red-optical photometry of the ultrahot Jupiter WASP-121 b as observed by the Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS) and model its atmosphere through a radiative transfer simulation. Given its short orbital period of ∼1.275 days, inflated state, and bright host star, WASP-121 b is exceptionally favorable for detailed atmospheric characterization. Toward this purpose, we use allesfitter to characterize its full red-optical phase curve, including the planetary phase modulation and secondary eclipse. We measure the day- and nightside brightness temperatures in the TESS passband as 3012-+4240 and 2022-+602254 K, respectively, and do not find a statistically significant phase shift between the brightest and substellar points. This is consistent with inefficient heat recirculation on the planet. We then perform an atmospheric retrieval analysis to infer the dayside atmospheric properties of WASP-121 b, such as its bulk composition, albedo, and heat recirculation. We confirm the temperature inversion in the atmosphere and suggest H-, TiO, and VO as potential causes of the inversion, absorbing heat at optical wavelengths at low pressures. Future Hubble Space Telescope and James Webb Space Telescope observations of WASP-121 b will benefit from its first full phase curve measured by TESS.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85102423862&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=85102423862&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.3847/1538-3881/abd8d2
DO - 10.3847/1538-3881/abd8d2
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85102423862
SN - 0004-6256
VL - 161
JO - Astronomical Journal
JF - Astronomical Journal
IS - 3
M1 - 131
ER -