Bright Opportunities for Atmospheric Characterization of Small Planets: Masses and Radii of K2-3 b, c, and d and GJ3470 b from Radial Velocity Measurements and Spitzer Transits

• Type: Article in International Scientific Journal
• Date: 2019

Authors

Kosiarek, MR (Author) Other; Crossfield, IJM (Author) Other; Hardegree Ullman, KK (Author) Other; Livingston, JH (Author) Other; Benneke, B (Author) Other; Henry, GW (Author) Other; Howard, WS (Author) Other; Berardo, D (Author) Other; Blunt, S (Author) Other; Fulton, BJ (Author) Other; Hirsch, LA (Author) Other; Howard, AW (Author) Other; Isaacson, H (Author) Other; Petigura, EA (Author) Other; Sinukoff, E (Author) Other; Weiss, L (Author) Other; Bonfils, X (Author) Other; Dressing, CD (Author) Other; Knutson, HA (Author) Other; Schlieder, JE (Author) Other; Werner, M (Author) Other; Gorjian, V (Author) Other; Krick, J (Author) Other; Morales, FY (Author) Other; Astudillo Defru, N (Author) Other; Almenara, JM (Author) Other; Delfosse, X (Author) Other; Forveille, T (Author) Other; Lovis, C (Author) Other; Mayor, M (Author) Other; Murgas, F (Author) Other; Pepe, F (Author) Other; N.C. Santos (Author) FCUP; Udry, S (Author) Other; Corbett, HT (Author) Other; Fors, O (Author) Other; Law, NM (Author) Other; Ratzloff, JK (Author) Other; del Ser, D (Author) Other

Journal

Title: Astronomical Journal

Vol. 157

Final page: 97

ISSN: 0004-6256

Publisher: American Astronomical Society

Indexing

ISI Web of Knowledge - 36 Citations

Scopus - 35 Citations

Other information

Authenticus ID: P-00Q-638

DOI: 10.3847/1538-3881/aaf79c

Abstract (EN): We report improved masses, radii, and densities for four planets in two bright M-dwarf systems, K2-3 and GJ3470, derived from a combination of new radial velocity and transit observations. Supplementing K2 photometry with follow-up Spitzer transit observations refined the transit ephemerides of K2-3 b, c, and d by over a factor of 10. We analyze ground-based photometry from the Evryscope and Fairborn Observatory to determine the characteristic stellar activity timescales for our Gaussian Process fit, including the stellar rotation period and activity region decay timescale. The stellar rotation signals for both stars are evident in the radial velocity data and is included in our fit using a Gaussian process trained on the photometry. We find the masses of K2-3 b, K2-3 c, and GJ3470 b to be 6.48(-0.93)(+0.99), 2.14(-1.04)(+1.08), and 12.58(-1.28)(+1.31) M-circle plus, respectively. K2-3 d was not significantly detected and has a 3 sigma upper limit of 2.80 M-circle plus. These two systems are training cases for future TESS systems; due to the low planet densities (rho < 3.7 g cm(-3)) and bright host stars (K < 9 mag), they are among the best candidates for transmission spectroscopy in order to characterize the atmospheric compositions of small planets.

Language: English

Type (Professor's evaluation): Scientific

No. of pages: 13