Journal article
DISCOVERY AND MASS MEASUREMENTS OF A COLD, 10 EARTH MASS PLANET AND ITS HOST STAR
Astrophysical Journal, Vol.741(1), 22
Nov/2011
Abstract
We present the discovery and mass measurement of the cold, low-mass planet MOA-2009-BLG-266Lb, performed with the gravitational microlensing method. This planet has a mass of m(p) = 10.4 +/- 1.7 M-circle plus and orbits a star of mass M-star = 0.56 +/- 0.09 M-circle dot at a semimajor axis of a = 3.2(-0.5)(+1.9) AU and an orbital period of P = 7.6(-1.5)(+7.7) yrs. The planet and host star mass measurements are enabled by the measurement of the microlensing parallax effect, which is seen primarily in the light curve distortion due to the orbital motion of the Earth. But the analysis also demonstrates the capability to measure the microlensing parallax with the Deep Impact (or EPOXI) spacecraft in a heliocentric orbit. The planet mass and orbital distance are similar to predictions for the critical core mass needed to accrete a substantial gaseous envelope, and thus may indicate that this planet is a "failed" gas giant. This and future microlensing detections will test planet formation theory predictions regarding the prevalence and masses of such planets.
Details
- Title
- DISCOVERY AND MASS MEASUREMENTS OF A COLD, 10 EARTH MASS PLANET AND ITS HOST STAR
- Creators
- Y. Muraki (null)C. Han (null)D. P. Bennett (null)D. Suzuki (null)L. A. G. Monard (null)R. Street (null)U. G. Jorgensen (null)P. Kundurthy (null)J. Skowron (null)A. C. Becker (null)M. D. Albrow (null)P. Fouque (null)D. Heyrovsky (null)R. K. Barry (null)J. -P. Beaulieu (null)D. D. Wellnitz (null)I. A. Bond (null)T. Sumi (null)S. Dong (null)
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Publication Details
- Astrophysical Journal, Vol.741(1), 22; Nov/2011
- Number of pages
- 15
- Language
- English
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1088/0004-637X/741/1/22
- Grant note
- National Research Foundation of Korea [2009-0081561]; Czech Science Foundation [GACR P209/10/1318]; NSF [AST-0757888]; European Research Council [246678]; ESO [385.C-0797]; NASA [NNX06Af40G]; Communaute francaise de Belgique-Actions de recherche concertees-Academie universitaire Wallonie-Europe; [NASA-NNX10AI81G]; [NSFAST-0708890]; [AST-1009621]; [JSPS18253002]; [JSPS20340052]We acknowledge the following support: NASA-NNX10AI81G, NSFAST-0708890, and AST-1009621 (D. P. B.); National Research Foundation of Korea 2009-0081561 (C.H.); JSPS18253002 and JSPS20340052 (F.A.); Czech Science Foundation grant GACR P209/10/1318 (D.H.); NSF Graduate Research Fellowship (J.C.Y.); European Research Council Advanced Grant No. 246678 (A.U.); ESO Prog.ID 385.C-0797( A); NASA NNX06Af40G (B.S.G., A.G., R.W.P.); NSF AST-0757888 (A.G.). D.R. (boursier FRIA), F.F., and J.S. acknowledge support from the Communaute francaise de Belgique-Actions de recherche concertees-Academie universitaire Wallonie-Europe._ALMAME_DELIMITER_
- Scientific Unit
- The Weizmann Institute of Science
- Record Identifier
- 993266697403596
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