Orbital Orientations of Exoplanets: HAT-P-4b is Prograde and HAT-P-14b is Retrograde

Details Orbital Orientations of Exoplanets: HAT-P-4b is Prograde and HAT-P-14b is Retrograde Orbital Orientations of Exoplanets: HAT-P-4b is Prograde and HAT-P-14b is Retrograde

2010-10-07

arxiv.org/abs/1010.1318v2

Astronomy and Astrophysics

Astrophysics

Earth and Planetary Astrophysics

AJ, in press [8 pages]

Scientific paper

We present observations of the Rossiter-McLaughlin effect for two exoplanetary systems, revealing the orientations of their orbits relative to the rotation axes of their parent stars. HAT-P-4b is prograde, with a sky-projected spin-orbit angle of lambda = -4.9 +/- 11.9 degrees. In contrast, HAT-P-14b is retrograde, with lambda = 189.1 +/- 5.1 degrees. These results conform with a previously noted pattern among the stellar hosts of close-in giant planets: hotter stars have a wide range of obliquities and cooler stars have low obliquities. This, in turn, suggests that three-body dynamics and tidal dissipation are responsible for the short-period orbits of many exoplanets. In addition, our data revealed a third body in the HAT-P-4 system, which could be a second planet or a companion star.

Affiliated with

Also associated with

No associations

Rating

Orbital Orientations of Exoplanets: HAT-P-4b is Prograde and HAT-P-14b is Retrograde 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 Orbital Orientations of Exoplanets: HAT-P-4b is Prograde and HAT-P-14b is Retrograde, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Orbital Orientations of Exoplanets: HAT-P-4b is Prograde and HAT-P-14b is Retrograde will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

Comments { 0 }

Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-508744