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<SUB>p</SUB> = 10.4 ± 1.7 M<SUB>⊕</SUB> and orbits a star of mass M <SUB>sstarf</SUB> = 0.56 ± 0.09 M<SUB>sun</SUB> at a semimajor axis of a = 3.2+1.9\atop -0.5 AU and an orbital period of P = 7.6+7.7\atop -1.5 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.

Muraki, Y., Han, C., Bennett, D.p., Suzuki, D., Monard, L., Street, R., et al. (2011). Discovery and mass measurements of a cold, 10 earth mass planet and its host star. THE ASTROPHYSICAL JOURNAL, 741(1), 22 [10.1088/0004-637X/741/1/22].

Discovery and mass measurements of a cold, 10 earth mass planet and its host star

Mancini L.;Ricci D.;
2011-01-01

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 mp = 10.4 ± 1.7 M and orbits a star of mass M sstarf = 0.56 ± 0.09 Msun at a semimajor axis of a = 3.2+1.9\atop -0.5 AU and an orbital period of P = 7.6+7.7\atop -1.5 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.
2011
Pubblicato
Rilevanza internazionale
Articolo
Esperti anonimi
Settore FIS/05 - ASTRONOMIA E ASTROFISICA
English
Muraki, Y., Han, C., Bennett, D.p., Suzuki, D., Monard, L., Street, R., et al. (2011). Discovery and mass measurements of a cold, 10 earth mass planet and its host star. THE ASTROPHYSICAL JOURNAL, 741(1), 22 [10.1088/0004-637X/741/1/22].
Muraki, Y; Han, C; Bennett, Dp; Suzuki, D; Monard, Lag; Street, R; Jorgensen, Ug; Kundurthy, P; Skowron, J; Becker, Ac; Albrow, Md; Fouque, P; Heyrovs...espandi
Articolo su rivista
File in questo prodotto:
File Dimensione Formato  
32-2011-ApJ-741-22.pdf

solo utenti autorizzati

Licenza: Copyright dell'editore
Dimensione 8.36 MB
Formato Adobe PDF
8.36 MB Adobe PDF   Visualizza/Apri   Richiedi una copia

I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.

Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/2108/204769
Citazioni
  • ???jsp.display-item.citation.pmc??? ND
  • Scopus 97
  • ???jsp.display-item.citation.isi??? 97
social impact