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A transiting giant planet with a temperature between 250 K and 430 K
H J Deeg1, C Moutou, A Erikson
1Instituto de Astrofísica de Canarias, C. Via Lactea S/N, E-38205 La Laguna, Tenerife, Spain. hdeeg@iac.es
Nature
|March 19, 2010
Summary
Researchers discovered CoRoT-9b, a temperate exoplanet with a large orbit. Its characteristics align with standard planetary evolution models, offering new insights into gas giant composition.
Area of Science:
- Astronomy and Astrophysics
- Exoplanetary Science
Background:
- Over 400 exoplanets have been discovered, with about 70 exhibiting transiting behavior.
- Transiting exoplanets allow for detailed parameter derivation and atmospheric studies.
- Previous discoveries often focused on short-period planets, including terrestrial ones like CoRoT-7b.
Purpose of the Study:
- To report transit observations of the exoplanet CoRoT-9b.
- To characterize CoRoT-9b's orbital parameters and temperature.
- To compare CoRoT-9b's properties with existing planetary evolution models.
Main Methods:
- Transit observations of CoRoT-9b were conducted.
- Orbital period, eccentricity, and periastron distance were determined.
- Photospheric temperature was estimated based on orbital and stellar properties.
Main Results:
- CoRoT-9b orbits a solar-like star with a period of 95.274 days and low eccentricity (0.11 +/- 0.04).
- It possesses the largest periastron distance (0.36 AU) among known transiting planets.
- The planet's estimated photospheric temperature ranges from 250 to 430 K, indicating a temperate climate.
- CoRoT-9b's size is not significantly affected by tidal heating, unlike shorter-period planets.
Conclusions:
- CoRoT-9b's properties are consistent with standard planetary evolution models.
- Its inferred interior composition is similar to that of Jupiter and Saturn.
- This discovery provides a unique case study for understanding temperate exoplanets with wide orbits.
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