The HARPS survey for southern extra-solar planets

• Type: Article in International Scientific Journal
• Date: 2004

Authors

N.C. Santos (Author) Other; Bouchy, F (Author) Other; Mayor, M (Author) Other; Pepe, F (Author) Other; Queloz, D (Author) Other; Udry, S (Author) Other; Lovis, C (Author) Other; Bazot, M (Author) Other; Benz, W (Author) Other; Bertaux, J (Author) Other; Lo Curto, G (Author) Other; Delfosse, X (Author) Other; Mordasini, C (Author) Other; Naef, D (Author) Other; Sivan, J (Author) Other; Vauclair, S (Author) Other

Journal

Title: Astronomy and Astrophysics

Vol. 426

Pages: L19-L23

ISSN: 0004-6361

Publisher: EDP Sciences

Indexing

ISI Web of Knowledge - 184 Citations

Scopus - 190 Citations

Other information

Authenticus ID: P-00H-KQM

DOI: 10.1051/0004-6361:200400076

Abstract (EN): In this letter we present the discovery of a very light planetary companion to the star mu Ara (HD160691). The planet orbits its host once every 9.5 days, and induces a sinusoidal radial velocity signal with a semi-amplitude of 4.1 m s(-1), the smallest Doppler amplitude detected so far. These values imply a mass of m(2) sin i = 14 M-circle times (Earth-masses). This detection represents the discovery of a planet with a mass slightly smaller than that of Uranus, the smallest "ice giant" in our Solar System. Whether this planet can be considered an ice giant or a super-earth planet is discussed in the context of the core-accretion and migration models.

Language: English

Type (Professor's evaluation): Scientific

No. of pages: 5