DISCOVERY OF A TRANSITING PLANET NEAR THE SNOW-LINE

D. M. Kipping; G. Torres; L. A. Buchhave; S. J. Kenyon; C. Henze; H. Isaacson; R. Kolbl; G. W. Marcy; S. T. Bryson; K. Stassun; F. Bastien

doi:10.1088/0004-637X/795/1/25

DISCOVERY OF A TRANSITING PLANET NEAR THE SNOW-LINE

D. M. Kipping, G. Torres, L. A. Buchhave, S. J. Kenyon, C. Henze, H. Isaacson, R. Kolbl, G. W. Marcy, S. T. Bryson, K. Stassun, F. Bastien

Astrophysics and Planetary Science

22 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

In most theories of planet formation, the snow-line represents a boundary between the emergence of the interior rocky planets and the exterior ice giants. The wide separation of the snow-line makes the discovery of transiting worlds challenging, yet transits would allow for detailed subsequent characterization. We present the discovery of Kepler-421b, a Uranus-sized exoplanet transiting a G9/K0 dwarf once every 704.2 days in a near-circular orbit. Using public Kepler photometry, we demonstrate that the two observed transits can be uniquely attributed to the 704.2 day period. Detailed light curve analysis with BLENDER validates the planetary nature of Kepler-421b to >4σ confidence. Kepler-421b receives the same insolation as a body at ~2 AU in the solar system, as well as a Uranian albedo, which would have an effective temperature of ~180 K. Using a time-dependent model for the protoplanetary disk, we estimate that Kepler-421b's present semi-major axis was beyond the snow-line after ~3 Myr, indicating that Kepler-421b may have formed at its observed location.

Original language	English
Article number	25
Journal	Astrophysical Journal
Volume	795
Issue number	1
ISSN	0004-637X
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1088/0004-637X/795/1/25
Publication status	Published - 1 Nov 2014

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10.1088/0004-637X/795/1/25

Cite this

@article{9aa872bac3be409893c8583bdde4f0bf,

title = "DISCOVERY OF A TRANSITING PLANET NEAR THE SNOW-LINE",

abstract = "In most theories of planet formation, the snow-line represents a boundary between the emergence of the interior rocky planets and the exterior ice giants. The wide separation of the snow-line makes the discovery of transiting worlds challenging, yet transits would allow for detailed subsequent characterization. We present the discovery of Kepler-421b, a Uranus-sized exoplanet transiting a G9/K0 dwarf once every 704.2 days in a near-circular orbit. Using public Kepler photometry, we demonstrate that the two observed transits can be uniquely attributed to the 704.2 day period. Detailed light curve analysis with BLENDER validates the planetary nature of Kepler-421b to >4σ confidence. Kepler-421b receives the same insolation as a body at ~2 AU in the solar system, as well as a Uranian albedo, which would have an effective temperature of ~180 K. Using a time-dependent model for the protoplanetary disk, we estimate that Kepler-421b's present semi-major axis was beyond the snow-line after ~3 Myr, indicating that Kepler-421b may have formed at its observed location.",

author = "Kipping, {D. M.} and G. Torres and Buchhave, {L. A.} and Kenyon, {S. J.} and C. Henze and H. Isaacson and R. Kolbl and Marcy, {G. W.} and Bryson, {S. T.} and K. Stassun and F. Bastien",

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T1 - DISCOVERY OF A TRANSITING PLANET NEAR THE SNOW-LINE

AU - Kipping, D. M.

AU - Torres, G.

AU - Buchhave, L. A.

AU - Kenyon, S. J.

AU - Henze, C.

AU - Isaacson, H.

AU - Kolbl, R.

AU - Marcy, G. W.

AU - Bryson, S. T.

AU - Stassun, K.

AU - Bastien, F.

PY - 2014/11/1

Y1 - 2014/11/1

N2 - In most theories of planet formation, the snow-line represents a boundary between the emergence of the interior rocky planets and the exterior ice giants. The wide separation of the snow-line makes the discovery of transiting worlds challenging, yet transits would allow for detailed subsequent characterization. We present the discovery of Kepler-421b, a Uranus-sized exoplanet transiting a G9/K0 dwarf once every 704.2 days in a near-circular orbit. Using public Kepler photometry, we demonstrate that the two observed transits can be uniquely attributed to the 704.2 day period. Detailed light curve analysis with BLENDER validates the planetary nature of Kepler-421b to >4σ confidence. Kepler-421b receives the same insolation as a body at ~2 AU in the solar system, as well as a Uranian albedo, which would have an effective temperature of ~180 K. Using a time-dependent model for the protoplanetary disk, we estimate that Kepler-421b's present semi-major axis was beyond the snow-line after ~3 Myr, indicating that Kepler-421b may have formed at its observed location.

AB - In most theories of planet formation, the snow-line represents a boundary between the emergence of the interior rocky planets and the exterior ice giants. The wide separation of the snow-line makes the discovery of transiting worlds challenging, yet transits would allow for detailed subsequent characterization. We present the discovery of Kepler-421b, a Uranus-sized exoplanet transiting a G9/K0 dwarf once every 704.2 days in a near-circular orbit. Using public Kepler photometry, we demonstrate that the two observed transits can be uniquely attributed to the 704.2 day period. Detailed light curve analysis with BLENDER validates the planetary nature of Kepler-421b to >4σ confidence. Kepler-421b receives the same insolation as a body at ~2 AU in the solar system, as well as a Uranian albedo, which would have an effective temperature of ~180 K. Using a time-dependent model for the protoplanetary disk, we estimate that Kepler-421b's present semi-major axis was beyond the snow-line after ~3 Myr, indicating that Kepler-421b may have formed at its observed location.

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DO - 10.1088/0004-637X/795/1/25

M3 - Journal article

SN - 0004-637X

VL - 795

JO - Astrophysical Journal

JF - Astrophysical Journal

IS - 1

M1 - 25

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