The transit light curve project. IX. Evidence for a smaller radius of the exoplanet XO-3b

Joshua N. Winn; Matthew J. Holman; Guillermo Torres; Peter Mccullough; Christopher Johns-Krull; David W. Latham; Avi Shporer; Tsevi Mazeh; Enrique Garcia-Melendo; Cindy Foote; Gil Esquerdo; Mark Everett

doi:10.1086/589737

The transit light curve project. IX. Evidence for a smaller radius of the exoplanet XO-3b

Joshua N. Winn, Matthew J. Holman, Guillermo Torres, Peter Mccullough, Christopher Johns-Krull, David W. Latham, Avi Shporer, Tsevi Mazeh, Enrique Garcia-Melendo, Cindy Foote, Gil Esquerdo, Mark Everett

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

246 Scopus citations

Abstract

We present photometry of 13 transits of XO-3b, a massive transiting planet on an eccentric orbit. Previous data led to two inconsistent estimates of the planetary radius. Our data strongly favor the smaller radius, with increased precision: R_p = 1.217 ± 0.073 R_Jup. A conflict remains between the mean stellar density determined from the light curve, and the stellar surface gravity determined from the shapes of spectral lines. We argue the light curve should take precedence, and revise the system parameters accordingly. The planetary radius is about 1 a larger than the theoretical radius for a hydrogen-helium planet of the given mass and insolation. To help in planning future observations, we provide refined transit and occultation ephemerides.

Original language	English (US)
Pages (from-to)	1076-1084
Number of pages	9
Journal	Astrophysical Journal
Volume	683
Issue number	2
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1086/589737
State	Published - Aug 20 2008
Externally published	Yes

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

Astronomy and Astrophysics
Space and Planetary Science

Keywords

Planetary systems
Stars: individual (GSC 03727-01064, XO-3)

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10.1086/589737

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title = "The transit light curve project. IX. Evidence for a smaller radius of the exoplanet XO-3b",

abstract = "We present photometry of 13 transits of XO-3b, a massive transiting planet on an eccentric orbit. Previous data led to two inconsistent estimates of the planetary radius. Our data strongly favor the smaller radius, with increased precision: Rp = 1.217 ± 0.073 RJup. A conflict remains between the mean stellar density determined from the light curve, and the stellar surface gravity determined from the shapes of spectral lines. We argue the light curve should take precedence, and revise the system parameters accordingly. The planetary radius is about 1 a larger than the theoretical radius for a hydrogen-helium planet of the given mass and insolation. To help in planning future observations, we provide refined transit and occultation ephemerides.",

keywords = "Planetary systems, Stars: individual (GSC 03727-01064, XO-3)",

author = "Winn, {Joshua N.} and Holman, {Matthew J.} and Guillermo Torres and Peter Mccullough and Christopher Johns-Krull and Latham, {David W.} and Avi Shporer and Tsevi Mazeh and Enrique Garcia-Melendo and Cindy Foote and Gil Esquerdo and Mark Everett",

year = "2008",

month = aug,

day = "20",

doi = "10.1086/589737",

language = "English (US)",

volume = "683",

pages = "1076--1084",

journal = "Astrophysical Journal",

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T1 - The transit light curve project. IX. Evidence for a smaller radius of the exoplanet XO-3b

AU - Winn, Joshua N.

AU - Holman, Matthew J.

AU - Torres, Guillermo

AU - Mccullough, Peter

AU - Johns-Krull, Christopher

AU - Latham, David W.

AU - Shporer, Avi

AU - Mazeh, Tsevi

AU - Garcia-Melendo, Enrique

AU - Foote, Cindy

AU - Esquerdo, Gil

AU - Everett, Mark

PY - 2008/8/20

Y1 - 2008/8/20

N2 - We present photometry of 13 transits of XO-3b, a massive transiting planet on an eccentric orbit. Previous data led to two inconsistent estimates of the planetary radius. Our data strongly favor the smaller radius, with increased precision: Rp = 1.217 ± 0.073 RJup. A conflict remains between the mean stellar density determined from the light curve, and the stellar surface gravity determined from the shapes of spectral lines. We argue the light curve should take precedence, and revise the system parameters accordingly. The planetary radius is about 1 a larger than the theoretical radius for a hydrogen-helium planet of the given mass and insolation. To help in planning future observations, we provide refined transit and occultation ephemerides.

AB - We present photometry of 13 transits of XO-3b, a massive transiting planet on an eccentric orbit. Previous data led to two inconsistent estimates of the planetary radius. Our data strongly favor the smaller radius, with increased precision: Rp = 1.217 ± 0.073 RJup. A conflict remains between the mean stellar density determined from the light curve, and the stellar surface gravity determined from the shapes of spectral lines. We argue the light curve should take precedence, and revise the system parameters accordingly. The planetary radius is about 1 a larger than the theoretical radius for a hydrogen-helium planet of the given mass and insolation. To help in planning future observations, we provide refined transit and occultation ephemerides.

KW - Planetary systems

KW - Stars: individual (GSC 03727-01064, XO-3)

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U2 - 10.1086/589737

DO - 10.1086/589737

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VL - 683

SP - 1076

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JO - Astrophysical Journal

JF - Astrophysical Journal

IS - 2

ER -

The transit light curve project. IX. Evidence for a smaller radius of the exoplanet XO-3b

Abstract

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

Keywords

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