scispace - formally typeset
Search or ask a question
Journal ArticleDOI

Detection of an Extrasolar Planet Atmosphere

TL;DR: In this paper, high-precision spectrophotometric observations of four planetary transits of HD 209458, in the region of the sodium resonance doublet at 589.3 nm, were reported.
Abstract: We report high-precision spectrophotometric observations of four planetary transits of HD 209458, in the region of the sodium resonance doublet at 589.3 nm. We find that the photometric dimming during transit in a bandpass centered on the sodium feature is deeper by (2.32 ± 0.57) × 10-4 relative to simultaneous observations of the transit in adjacent bands. We interpret this additional dimming as absorption from sodium in the planetary atmosphere, as recently predicted from several theoretical modeling efforts. Our model for a cloudless planetary atmosphere with a solar abundance of sodium in atomic form predicts more sodium absorption than we observe. There are several possibilities that may account for this reduced amplitude, including reaction of atomic sodium into molecular gases and/or condensates, photoionization of sodium by the stellar flux, a low primordial abundance of sodium, and the presence of clouds high in the atmosphere.
Figures (10)

Content maybe subject to copyright    Report

Citations
More filters
Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this article, the authors present evolutionary models for cool brown dwarfs and extra-solar giant planets and show that irradiation effects can substantially affect the radius of sub-jovian mass giant planets.
Abstract: We present evolutionary models for cool brown dwarfs and extra-solar giant planets. The models reproduce the main trends of observed methane dwarfs in near-IR color-magnitude diagrams. We also present evolutionary models for irradiated planets, coupling for the first time irradiated atmosphere profiles and inner structures. We focus on HD 209458-like systems and show that irradiation effects can substantially affect the radius of sub-jovian mass giant planets. Irradiation effects, however, cannot alone explain the large observed radius of HD 209458b. Adopting assumptions which optimise irradiation effects and taking into account the extension of the outer atmospheric layers, we still find $\\sim$ 20% discrepancy between observed and theoretical radii. An extra source of energy seems to be required to explain the observed value of the first transit planet.

1,812 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) as discussed by the authors is a large (6.6 m), cold (<50 K), infrared-optimized space observatory that will be launched early in the next decade into orbit around the second Earth-Sun Lagrange point.
Abstract: The James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) is a large (6.6 m), cold (<50 K), infrared (IR)-optimized space observatory that will be launched early in the next decade into orbit around the second Earth–Sun Lagrange point. The observatory will have four instruments: a near-IR camera, a near-IR multiobject spectrograph, and a tunable filter imager will cover the wavelength range, 0.6 < ; < 5.0 μ m, while the mid-IR instrument will do both imaging and spectroscopy from 5.0 < ; < 29 μ m. The JWST science goals are divided into four themes. The key objective of The End of the Dark Ages: First Light and Reionization theme is to identify the first luminous sources to form and to determine the ionization history of the early universe. The key objective of The Assembly of Galaxies theme is to determine how galaxies and the dark matter, gas, stars, metals, morphological structures, and active nuclei within them evolved from the epoch of reionization to the present day. The key objective of The Birth of Stars and Protoplanetary Systems theme is to unravel the birth and early evolution of stars, from infall on to dust-enshrouded protostars to the genesis of planetary systems. The key objective of the Planetary Systems and the Origins of Life theme is to determine the physical and chemical properties of planetary systems including our own, and investigate the potential for the origins of life in those systems. Within these themes and objectives, we have derived representative astronomical observations. To enable these observations, JWST consists of a telescope, an instrument package, a spacecraft, and a sunshield. The telescope consists of 18 beryllium segments, some of which are deployed. The segments will be brought into optical alignment on-orbit through a process of periodic wavefront sensing and control. The instrument package contains the four science instruments and a fine guidance sensor. The spacecraft provides pointing, orbit maintenance, and communications. The sunshield provides passive thermal control. The JWST operations plan is based on that used for previous space observatories, and the majority of JWST observing time will be allocated to the international astronomical community through annual peer-reviewed proposal opportunities.

1,372 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
13 Mar 2003-Nature
TL;DR: The detection of atomic hydrogen absorption in the stellar Lyman α line during three transits of HD209458b is reported, showing that this absorption should take place beyond the Roche limit and therefore can be understood in terms of escaping hydrogen atoms.
Abstract: The planet in the system HD209458 is the first one for which repeated transits across the stellar disk have been observed1,2. Together with radial velocity measurements3, this has led to a determination of the planet's radius and mass, confirming it to be a gas giant. But despite numerous searches for an atmospheric signature4,5,6, only the dense lower atmosphere of HD209458b has been observed, through the detection of neutral sodium absorption7. Here we report the detection of atomic hydrogen absorption in the stellar Lyman α line during three transits of HD209458b. An absorption of 15 ± 4% (1σ) is observed. Comparison with models shows that this absorption should take place beyond the Roche limit and therefore can be understood in terms of escaping hydrogen atoms.

1,218 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: For hydrogen-helium-rich planets, the authors in this article couple planetary evolution to stellar irradiation over a wide range of orbital separations (0.02-10 AU) through a nongray radiative-convective equilibrium atmosphere model.
Abstract: Toaidinthephysicalinterpretationofplanetaryradii constrainedthroughobservationsoftransitingplanets,oreventuallydirectdetections,wecomputemodelradiiofpurehydrogen-helium,water,rock,andironplanets,alongwithvarious mixtures. Masses ranging from 0.01 Earth masses to 10 Jupiter masses at orbital distances of 0.02–10 AU are considered. For hydrogen-helium rich planets, our models are the first to couple planetary evolution to stellar irradiation over a wide range of orbital separations (0.02–10 AU) through a nongray radiative-convective equilibrium atmosphere model. Stellar irradiation retards the contraction of giant planets, but its effect is not a simple function of theirradiationlevel:aplanetat1AUcontractsasslowlyasaplanetat0.1AU.WeconfirmtheassertionofGuillotthat very old giant planets under modest stellar irradiation (like that received by Jupiter and Saturn) develop isothermal atmospheric radiative zones once the planet’s intrinsic flux drops to a small fraction of the incident flux. For hydrogenhelium planets, we consider cores up to 90% of the total planet mass, comparable to those of Uranus and Neptune. If ‘‘hot Neptunes’’ have maintained their original masses and are not remnants of more massive planets, radii of � 0.30– 0.45RJ areexpected.Waterplanetsare � 40%–50%largerthanrockyplanets,independentofmass.Finally,weprovide tables of planetary radii at various ages and compositions, and for ice-rock-iron planets we fit our results to analytic functions, which will allow for quick composition estimates, given masses and radii, or mass estimates, given only planetary radii. These results will assist in the interpretation of observations for both the current transiting planet surveys as well as upcoming space missions, including COROT and Kepler.

995 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors highlight the potential importance of gaseous TiO and VO opacity on the highly irradiated close-in giant planets and calculate model atmospheres for these planets, including pressure-temperature profiles, spectra, and characteristic radiative time constants.
Abstract: We highlight the potential importance of gaseous TiO and VO opacity on the highly irradiated close-in giant planets. The atmospheres of these planets naturally fall in to two classes that are somewhat analogous to the Mand L-type dwarfs. Those that are warm enough to have appreciable opacity due to TiO and VO gases we term the “pM Class” planets, and those that are cooler, such that Ti and V are predominantly in solid condensates, we term “pL Class” planets. The optical spectra of pL Class planets are dominated by neutral atomic Na and K absorption. We calculate model atmospheres for these planets, including pressure-temperature profiles, spectra, and characteristic radiative time constants. Planets that have temperature inversions (hot stratospheres) of �2000 K and appear “anomalously” bright in the mid infrared at secondary eclipse, as was recently found for planets HD 149026b and HD 209458b, we term the pM Class. Molecular bands of TiO, VO, H2O, and CO will be seen in emission, rather than absorption. This class of planets a bsorbs incident flux and emits thermal flux from high in their atmospheres. Consequently, they will have large day/night temperature contrasts and negligible phase shifts between orbital phase and thermal emission light curves, because radiative timescales are much shorter than possible dynamical timescales. The pL Class planets absorb incident flux deeper in the atmosphere where atmospheric dynamics will more readily redistribute absorbed energy. This leads to cooler day sides, warmer night sides, and larger phase shifts in thermal emission lig ht curves. We briefly examine the transit radii for both classes of planets. The boundary between these classes is particularly dependent on the incident flux from the parent star, and less so on the temperature of the planet’s in ternal adiabat (which depends on mass and age), and surface gravity. Around a Sun-like primary, for solar composition, this boundary likely occurs at �0.04-0.05 AU, but uncertainties remain. We apply these results to pM Class transiting planets that are observable with the Spitzer Space Telescope, including HD 209458b, WASP-1b, TrES-3b, TrES-4b, HD 149026b, and others. The eccentric transiting planets HD 147506b and HD 17156b alternate between the classes during their orbits. Thermal emission in the optical from pM Class planets is significant red-ward o f 400 nm, making these planets attractive targets for optical detection via Kepler, COROT, and from the ground. The difference in the observed day/night contrast

880 citations

References
More filters
Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this paper, Cox et al. introduce a general constant and unit model for general constants and units, and discuss atoms and molecules in the solar system, including Planets and Satellites.
Abstract: 1) Introduction. Cox 2)General Constants and Units. Cox 3) Atoms and Molecules. Dappen 4) Spectra. Cowley, et al 5) Radiation. Keady & Kilcrease 6) Radio and Microwave Astronomy. Hjellming 7) Infrared Astronomy. Tokunaga 8) Ultraviolet Astronomy. Teays 9) X-Ray Astronomy. Seward 10) Gamma-Ray and Neutrino Astronomy. Lingenfelter & Rothschild 11) Earth. Schubert & Walterscheid 12) Planets and Satellites. Tholen 13) Solar System Small Bodies. Binzel, et al 14) Sun. Livingston 15) Normal Stars. Drilling & Landolt 16) Stars with Special Characteristics. Fernie 17) Cataclysmic and Symbiotic Variables. Sparks, et al. 18) Supernovae. Wheeler & Bennetti 19) Star Populations and the Solar Neighborhood. Gilmore & Zeilik 20) Theoretical Stellar Evolution. Becker/Pensell/Cox 21) Circumstellar and Interstellar Material. Mathis 22) Star Clusters. Harris & Harris 23) Milky Way Galaxies. Trimble 24) Quasars and Active Galactic Nuclei. Wilkes 25) Clusters and Groups of Galaxies. Bahcall 26) Cosmology. Scott, et al 27) Incidental Tables. Fiala, et al.

3,118 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: High-precision, high-cadence photometric measurements of the star HD 209458 are reported, which is known from radial velocity measurements to have a planetary-mass companion in a close orbit and the detailed shape of the transit curve due to both the limb darkening of thestar and the finite size of the planet is clearly evident.
Abstract: We report high-precision, high-cadence photometric measurements of the star HD 209458, which is known from radial velocity measurements to have a planetary-mass companion in a close orbit. We detect two separate transit events at times that are consistent with the radial velocity measurements. In both cases, the detailed shape of the transit curve due to both the limb darkening of the star and the finite size of the planet is clearly evident. Assuming stellar parameters of 1.1 R⊙ and 1.1 M⊙, we find that the data are best interpreted as a gas giant with a radius of 1.27 ± 0.02 RJup in an orbit with an inclination of 871 ± 02. We present values for the planetary surface gravity, escape velocity, and average density and discuss the numerous observations that are warranted now that a planet is known to transit the disk of its parent star.

1,494 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In the first 371 sq. deg. of actual 2MASS survey data, they identified another twenty objects spectroscopically confirmed using the Low Resolution Imaging Spectrograph (LRIS) at the W.M. Keck Observatory.
Abstract: Before the 2-Micron All-Sky Survey (2MASS) began, only six objects were known with spectral types later than M9.5 V. In the first 371 sq. deg. of actual 2MASS survey data, we have identified another twenty such objects spectroscopically confirmed using the Low Resolution Imaging Spectrograph (LRIS) at the W.M. Keck Observatory.

1,041 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Doppler measurements from Keck exhibit a sinusoidal periodicity in the velocities of the G0 dwarf HD 209458, having a semiamplitude of 81 m s-1 and a period of 3.5239 days, which is indicative of a "51 Peg-like" planet with a minimum mass (Msini) of 0.62 MJup and a semimajor axis of0.046 AU.
Abstract: Doppler measurements from Keck exhibit a sinusoidal periodicity in the velocities of the G0 dwarf HD 209458, having a semiamplitude of 81 m s 21 and a period of 3.5239 days, which is indicative of a “51 Peg‐like” planet with a minimum mass ( ) of 0.62 MJup and a semimajor axis of 0.046 AU. Follow-up photometry reveals M sin i a drop of 0.017 mag at the predicted time (within the errors) of transit by the companion based on the velocities. This is the first extrasolar planet observed to transit its star. The radius of the planet derived from the magnitude of the dimming is 1.42 RJup, which is consistent with models of irradiated Jupiter-mass planets. The transit implies that , leading to a true mass of 0.62 MJup for the planet. The resulting mean density of 0.27 g cm 23 sin i 1 0.993 implies that the companion is a gas giant. Subject headings: planetary systems — stars: individual (HD 209458)

940 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this article, a method to calculate vertical profiles of particle size distributions in condensation clouds of giant planets and brown dwarfs is presented, which assumes a balance between turbulent diffusion and precipitation in horizontally uniform cloud decks.
Abstract: We present a method to calculate vertical profiles of particle size distributions in condensation clouds of giant planets and brown dwarfs. The method assumes a balance between turbulent diffusion and precipitation in horizontally uniform cloud decks. Calculations for the Jovian ammonia cloud are compared with previous methods. An adjustable parameter describing the efficiency of precipitation allows the new model to span the range of predictions from previous models. Calculations for the Jovian ammonia cloud are found to be consistent with observational constraints. Example calculations are provided for water, silicate, and iron clouds on brown dwarfs and on a cool extrasolar giant planet.

842 citations