Probable detection of starlight reflected from the giant exoplanet orbiting tau Bootis

Details Probable detection of starlight reflected from the giant exoplanet orbiting tau Bootis Probable detection of starlight reflected from the giant exoplanet orbiting tau Bootis

1999-11-16

arxiv.org/abs/astro-ph/9911314v3

Astronomy and Astrophysics

Astrophysics

15 pages, 4 figures. (Fig 1 and equation for epsilon on p1 para 2 revised; changed from double to single spacing)

Scientific paper

10.1038/45451

Giant planets orbiting stars other than the Sun are clearly detectable through precise radial-velocity measurements of the orbital reflex motion of the parent star. In the four years since the discovery of the companion to the star 51 Peg, similar low-amplitude ``Doppler star wobbles'' have revealed the presence of some 20 planets orbiting nearby solar-type stars. Several of these newly-discovered planets are very close to their parent stars, in orbits with periods of only a few days. Being an indirect technique, however, the reflex-velocity method has little to say about the sizes or compositions of the planets, and can only place lower limits on their masses. Here we report the use of high-resolution optical spectroscopy to achieve a probable detection of the Doppler-shifted signature of starlight reflected from one of these objects, the giant exoplanet orbiting the star tau Bootis. Our data give the planet's orbital inclination i=29 degrees, indicating that its mass is some 8 times that of Jupiter, and suggest strongly that the planet has the size and reflectivity expected for a gas-giant planet.

Affiliated with

Also associated with

No associations

Rating

Probable detection of starlight reflected from the giant exoplanet orbiting tau Bootis does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this scientific paper.

If you have personal experience with Probable detection of starlight reflected from the giant exoplanet orbiting tau Bootis, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Probable detection of starlight reflected from the giant exoplanet orbiting tau Bootis will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

Comments { 0 }

Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-238505