From: LARRY KLAES (ljk4_at_msn.com)
Date: Wed Oct 24 2007 - 11:00:41 PDT
Observations of Extrasolar Planets During the non-Cryogenic Spitzer Space
Telescope Mission
Authors: Drake Deming, Eric Agol, David Charbonneau, Nicolas Cowan, Heather
Knutson, Massimo Marengo
(Submitted on 22 Oct 2007)
Abstract: Precision infrared photometry from Spitzer has enabled the first
direct studies of light from extrasolar planets, via observations at
secondary eclipse in transiting systems. Current Spitzer results include the
first longitudinal temperature map of an extrasolar planet, and the first
spectra of their atmospheres. Spitzer has also measured a temperature and
precise radius for the first transiting Neptune-sized exoplanet, and is
beginning to make precise transit timing measurements to infer the existence
of unseen low mass planets. The lack of stellar limb darkening in the
infrared facilitates precise radius and transit timing measurements of
transiting planets. Warm Spitzer will be capable of a precise radius
measurement for Earth-sized planets transiting nearby M-dwarfs, thereby
constraining their bulk composition. It will continue to measure thermal
emission at secondary eclipse for transiting hot Jupiters, and be able to
distinguish between planets having broad band emission versus absorption
spectra. It will also be able to measure the orbital phase variation of
thermal emission for close-in planets, even non-transiting planets, and
these measurements will be of special interest for planets in eccentric
orbits. Warm Spitzer will be a significant complement to Kepler,
particularly as regards transit timing in the Kepler field. In addition to
studying close-in planets, Warm Spitzer will have significant application in
sensitive imaging searches for young planets at relatively large angular
separations from their parent stars.
Comments: 12 pages, 7 figures, to appear in “Science Opportunities for the
Warm Spitzer Mission”
Subjects: Astrophysics (astro-ph)
Cite as: arXiv:0710.4145v1 [astro-ph]
Submission history
From: Drake Deming [view email]
[v1] Mon, 22 Oct 2007 20:34:53 GMT (310kb)
http://arxiv.org/abs/0710.4145
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