Non-sinusoidal transit timing variations for the exoplanet HAT-P-12b

Considering the importance of investigating the transit timing variations(TTVs) of transiting exoplanets,we present a follow-up study of HAT-P-12 b.We include six new light curves observed between2011 and 2015 from three different observatories,in association with 25 light curves taken from the published literature.The sample of the data used thus covers a time span of ～10.2 years with a large coverage of epochs(1160) for the transiting events of the exoplanet HAT-P-12 b.The light curves are utilized to determine the orbital parameters and conduct an investigation of possible TTVs.The new linear ephemeris shows a large value of reduced χ~2,i.e.X~2_(red)(23)=7.93,and the sinusoidal fitting using the prominent frequency coming from a periodogram shows a reduced χ~2 around 4.Based on these values and the corresponding O-C diagrams,we suspect the presence of a possible non-sinusoidal TTV in this planetary system.Finally,we find that a scenario with an additional non-transiting exoplanet could explain this TTV with an even smaller reduced χ~2 value of around 2.     

A revised orbital ephemeris for HAT-P-9b

We present here three transit observations of HAT-P-9b taken on 14 February 2010 and 05 April 2010 UT from the University of Arizona’s 1.55 m Kuiper telescope on Mt. Bigelow. Our two light curves were obtained in the Arizona-I filter for all our observations, and underwent the same reduction process. Both transits occurred approximately 24 min earlier than expected from the ephemeris of Shporer et al. (2009). However, due to the large time span between our observed transits and those of Shporer et al. (2009), a 6.5 s shift downwards in orbital period from the value of Shporer et al. (2009) is sufficient to explain all available transit data. We find a new period of 3.922814 ± 0.000002 days for HAT-P-9b, an order of magnitude more precise than previous measurements, with no evidence for significant nonlinearities in the transit period.     

Photometric Observation and Study of the Transiting Exoplanetary System HAT-P-8

Three transit events of HAT-P-8 were observed by using the 1 m telescope of Yunnan Observatory and the 2.4 m telescope of Lijiang Astronomical Station in 2009 and 2012, respectively. The observational data are reduced with the coarse de-correlation and SysRem algorithms in order to improve the signal to noise ratio of the transit signals. The MCMC (Markov Chain Monte Carlo) technique is applied to analyzing the three transit light curves simultaneously, then the new parameters of the HAT-P-8 system are derived. The new value of the radius of HAT-P-8b is smaller than that given by Latham et al., while it is consistent with the value derived recently by Mancini et al. By linear ?tting on the 23 high-precision mid-transit times, the orbital period of HAT-P-8b is re?ned as P =3.0763461±0.0000021 d, and from the (O − C) analysis no obvious TTV (Transit Timing Variation) signal has been detected.     

Light curve analysis of ground-based data from exoplanets transit database

Photometric observations of exoplanet transits can be used to derive the orbital and physical parameters of an exoplanet. We analyzed several transit light curves of exoplanets that are suitable for ground-based observations whose complete information is available on the Exoplanet Transit Database (ETD). We analyzed transit data of planets including HAT-P-8 b, HAT-P-16 b, HAT-P-21 b, HAT-P-22 b, HAT-P-28 b and HAT-P-30 b using the AstroImageJ (AIJ) software package. In this paper, we investigated 82 transit light curves from ETD, deriving their physical parameters as well as computing their mid-transit times for future Transit Timing Variation (TTV) analyses. The Precise values of the parameters show that using AIJ as a fitting tool for follow-up observations can lead to results comparable to the values at the NASA Exoplanet Archive (the NEA). Such information will be invaluable considering the numbers of future discoveries from ground and space-based exoplanet surveys.     

Astrokit-an efficient program for high-precision differential CCD photometry and search for variable stars

Having a need to perform differential photometry for tens of thousands stars in a several square degrees field, we developed Astrokit program. The software corrects the star brightness variations caused by variations of atmospheric transparency: to this end, the program selects for each star an individual ensemble of reference stars having similar magnitudes and positions in the frame. With ten or more reference stars in the ensemble, the differences between their spectral types and the spectral type of the object studied become unimportant. A strokit searches for variable stars using Robust Median Statistics criterion, which allows candidate variables to be selected more efficiently than by analyzing the standard deviation of star magnitudes. The software allows very precise automatic analysis of long inhomogeneous sets of photometric observations of a large number of objects to be performed, making it possible to find “hot Jupiter” type exoplanet transits and low-amplitude variables. We describe the algorithm of the program and the results of its application to reduce the data of the photometric sky survey in Cygnus as well as observations of the open cluster NGC188 and the transit of the exoplanet WASP-11 b /HAT-P-10 b, performed with the MASTER-II-URAL telescope of the Kourovka Astronomical Observatory of the Ural Federal University.     

太阳系外行星的凌星观测研究

为对太阳系外行星的物理参数进行更精确估算,利用山东大学威海天文台/威海市天文台的1 m反射望远镜,对7颗已知具有行星系统的恒星:TrES-1、TrES-3、XO-2、WASP-1、WASP-2、WASP-3、HAT-P-7,进行了凌星现象的观测研究.介绍观测和数据处理的基本情况,给出凌星光变曲线结果及由之推算出的一些行星参数.在总结结果并加以分析的同时,展望下一步将进行的更为深入细致的研究.     

Observations of extrasolar planet transits with the automated telescopes of the Pulkovo Astronomical Observatory

Exoplanet observations have been performed on the automated Pulkovo Observatory telescopes. We have obtained 33 transit light curves for 16 known exoplanets and six transit observations for three exoplanet candidates discovered by the Kepler telescope. Based on our observations, we have reliably confirmed the existence of an exoplanet with an extremely large radius, R _pl = 1.83 ± 0.16R _Jup, in the system KOI 256 and detected a strong deviation of its orbital revolution from the theoretically predicted one. During the transit of the exoplanet WASP-12b across the stellar disk, we detected bursts that could be caused by the planet transit across spots on the star or by the presence of a satellite around this exoplanet. We detected possible periodic variations in the duration of the exoplanet transit across the stellar disk with time for HAT-P-12b that could be caused by variations in orbital inclination. The transit duration and depth, the central transit time, and the radius and orbital inclination of the planet have been estimated. The equilibrium temperature and albedo have been estimated for several exoplanets.     

Observation and Research of the Transits of Extrasolar Planets

In order to make more accurate estimates of the physical parameters of extrasolar planets, the observation and research on the phenomena of transits of the 7 known stars with the planetary systems TrES-1, TrES-3, XO-2, WASP-1, WASP-2, WASP-3 and HAT-P-7 are carried out with the 1-m reflecting telescope at Shandong University Weihai Astronomical Observatory/Weihai Municipal Astronomical Observatory. The fundamental conditions of the observation and data processing are introduced, and the transit light curves as well as the parameters of some planets derived from them are given. At the same time, when the results are summarized and analyzed, the prospects for the more in-depth and detailed researches which will be further carried out are also described.     

WASP-1b and WASP-2b: two new transiting exoplanets detected with SuperWASP and SOPHIE

We have detected low-amplitude radial-velocity variations in two stars, USNO-B1.0 1219–0005465 (GSC  02265–00107 = WASP–1  ) and USNO-B1.0 0964–0543604 (GSC  00522–01199 = WASP–2  ). Both stars were identified as being likely host stars of transiting exoplanets in the 2004 SuperWASP wide-field transit survey. Using the newly commissioned radial-velocity spectrograph SOPHIE at the Observatoire de Haute-Provence, we found that both objects exhibit reflex orbital radial-velocity variations with amplitudes characteristic of planetary-mass companions and in-phase with the photometric orbits. Line-bisector studies rule out faint blended binaries as the cause of either the radial-velocity variations or the transits. We perform preliminary spectral analyses of the host stars, which together with their radial-velocity variations and fits to the transit light curves yield estimates of the planetary masses and radii. WASP-1b and WASP-2b have orbital periods of 2.52 and 2.15 d, respectively. Given mass estimates for their F7V and K1V primaries, we derive planet masses 0.80–0.98 and 0.81–0.95 times that of Jupiter, respectively. WASP-1b appears to have an inflated radius of at least 1.33 R _Jup, whereas WASP-2b has a radius in the range 0.65–1.26 R _Jup.     

TASTE IV: Refining ephemeris and orbital parameters for HAT‐P‐20b and WASP‐1b

We present four new light curves of the transiting exoplanets WASP‐1b and HAT‐P‐20b, observed within the TASTE (The Asiago Search for Transit timing variations of Exoplanets) project. We re‐analyzed light curves from the literature in a homogeneous way, calculating a refined ephemeris and orbital‐physical parameters for both objects. WASP‐1b does not show any significant Transit Timing Variation signal at the 120 s level. As for HAT‐P‐20b, we detected a deviation from our re‐estimated linear ephemeris that could be ascribed to the presence of a perturber or, more probably, to a previously unnoticed high level of stellar activity. The rotational period of HAT‐P‐20 A that we obtained from archival data (P_rot ≃ 14.5 d), combined with its optical variability and strong emission of Ca ii H & K lines, is consistent with a young stellar age (<1 Gyr) and support the hypothesis that stellar activity may be responsible of the measured deviations of the transit times. (© 2014 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

THE NAZARETH(b) METEORITE

The Nazareth(b) meteorite is a medium octahedrite found in 1968 near Nazareth, Texas. It contains 8.75% nickel and large schreibersite inclusions     

New photometric analysis of hot Jupiter: WASP-135b

We report photometric follow-up observations of WASP-135b obtained using the 1.23-m telescope at Calar Alto Observatory and 1.00-m telescope at TÜBİTAK National Observatory during the 2017 and 2018 observational seasons. Eight new transit light curves of WASP-135b were analyzed with jktebop code. The ratio of the planet radius to radius of host star, fractional radius of host star, and orbital inclination of WASP-135b were found to be 0.138 ± 0.002, 0.181 ± 0.008 and 82.44 ± 0.64 degrees, respectively. Planetary radius of WASP-135b was derived from transit parameters to be 1.075 ± 0.150 R_J. The transit ephemeris of WASP-135b was also updated using the maximum likelihood method (MLM). 165 well-known hot Jupiters (HJs) were selected from the Exoplanet Data Explorer database and the classification of these HJs together with WASP-135b, based on their equilibrium temperatures and Safronov numbers, is discussed.     

Photometric Follow-up Transit (Primary Eclipse) Observations of WASP-43 b and TrES-3b and A Study on Their Transit Timing Variations

Two photometric follow-up transit (primary eclipse) observations on WASP-43 b and four observations on TrES-3 b are performed using the Xuyi Near-Earth Object Survey Telescope. After differential photometry and light curve analysis, the physical parameters of the two systems are obtained and are in good match with the literature. Combining with transit data from a lot of literature, the residuals (O ? C) of transit observations of both systems are fitted with the linear and quadratic functions. With the linear fitting, the periods and transit timing variations (TTVs) of the planets are obtained, and no obvious periodic TTV signal is found in both systems after an analysis. The maximum mass of a perturbing planet located at the 1:2 mean motion resonance (MMR) for WASP-43 b and TrES-3 b is estimated to be 1.826 and 1.504 Earth mass, respectively. By quadratic fitting, it is confirmed that WASP-43 b may have a long-term TTV which means an orbital decay. The decay rate is shown to be P? = (?0.005248 ± 0.001714) s·yr^?1, and compared with the previous results. Based on this, the lower limit of the stellar tidal quality parameter of WASP-43 is calculated to be ${Q^{\prime }}_{*}\ge 1.5\times {10}^5$, and the remaining lifetimes of the planets are presented for the different ${Q^{\prime }}_{*}$ values of the two systems, correspondingly.     

Cosmic Rays near Proxima Centauri b

The discovery of a terrestrial planet orbiting Proxima Centauri has led to a lot of papers discussing the possible conditions on this planet. Since the main factors determining space weather in the Solar System are the solar wind and cosmic rays (CRs), it seems important to understand what the parameters of the stellar wind, Galactic and stellar CRs near exoplanets are. Based on the available data, we present our estimates of the stellar wind velocity and density, the possible CR fluxes and fluences near Proxima b. We have found that there are virtually no Galactic CRs near the orbit of Proxima b up to particle energies ~1 TeV due to their modulation by the stellar wind. Nevertheless, more powerful and frequent flares on Proxima Centauri than those on the Sun can accelerate particles to maximum energies ~3150αβ GeV (α, β < 1). Therefore, the intensity of stellar CRs in the astrosphere may turn out to be comparable to the intensity of low-energy CRs in the heliosphere.     

On the Nature of the Object HD 209458b: Conclusions Drawn from Comparison of Experimental and Theoretical Data

The experimental data obtained in transit observations of the extrasolar planet HD 209458b and their comparison with theoretical inferences have led to the conclusions that HD 209458b (and other similar hot jupiters) is of a (mainly) hydrogen nature and that these objects probably possess strong magnetic fields. The results of the studies of HD 209458b and prospects for searches for the transits of other extrasolar planets are considered in detail.     

WASP-3b: a strongly irradiated transiting gas-giant planet

We report the discovery of WASP-3b, the third transiting exoplanet to be discovered by the WASP and SOPHIE collaboration. WASP-3b transits its host star USNO-B1.0 1256−0285133 every  1.846 834 ± 0.000 002  d. Our high-precision radial velocity measurements present a variation with amplitude characteristic of a planetary-mass companion and in phase with the light curve. Adaptive optics imaging shows no evidence for nearby stellar companions, and line-bisector analysis excludes faint, unresolved binarity and stellar activity as the cause of the radial velocity variations. We make a preliminary spectroscopic analysis of the host star and find it to have   T _eff= 6400 ± 100 K  and  log   g = 4.25 ± 0.05  which suggests it is most likely an unevolved main-sequence star of spectral type F7-8V. Our simultaneous modelling of the transit photometry and reflex motion of the host leads us to derive a mass of  1.76^+0.08_−0.14 M _J  and radius  1.31^+0.07_−0.14 R _J  for WASP-3b. The proximity and relative temperature of the host star suggests that WASP-3b is one of the hottest exoplanets known, and thus has the potential to place stringent constraints on exoplanet atmospheric models.     

The pionic contribution to diffuse γ-rays: upper limits

Diffuse γ-rays probe the highest-energy processes at the largest scales. Here we derive model-independent constraints on the hadronic contribution to the Galactic and extragalactic γ-ray spectra at in the energy range 50 MeVE_γ10 GeV. The hadronic component is dominated by emission from neutral pions, with a characteristic spectrum symmetric about m_π⁰/2. We exploit the well-defined properties of the pion decay spectrum to quantify the maximum pionic fraction of the observed γ-ray intensity. We find that the Galactic spectrum above 30 MeV can be atmost about 50% pionic. The maximum pionic contribution to the extragalactic spectrum is energy dependent; it also depends on the redshift range over which the sources are distributed, ranging from as low as about 20% for pions generated very recently, to as much as 90% if the pions are generated around redshift 10. The implications of these constraints for models of γ-ray and neutrino emission are briefly discussed.     

The radio spectra of theγ-Cygni source and the IC 1318b,c nebular complex

The radio spectra of both the γ-Cygni radio source and the IC 1318b, c nebular complex are established from all the availabel data. The non-thermal nature of the γ-Cygni source is established (sp. index ?0.93±0.30). The IC 1318b, c shows an optically thin thermal spectrum. The possibility of the γ-Cygni source being a SNR is discussed.