Astronomy and Astrophysics – Astrophysics
Scientific paper
1999-08-04
Nature, 402, 57, (1999)
Astronomy and Astrophysics
Astrophysics
11 pages, with 1 color and 2 b/w Figures included (published version)
Scientific paper
10.1038/46990
The study of extra-solar planetary systems has emerged as a new discipline of observational astronomy in the past few years with the discovery of a number of extra-solar planets. The properties of most of these extra-solar planets were not anticipated by theoretical work on the formation of planetary systems. Here we report observations and light curve modeling of gravitational microlensing event MACHO-97-BLG-41, which indicates that the lens system consists of a planet orbiting a binary star system. According to this model, the mass ratio of the binary star system is 3.8:1 and the stars are most likely to be a late K dwarf and an M dwarf with a separation of about 1.8 AU. A planet of about 3 Jupiter masses orbits this system at a distance of about 7 AU. If our interpretation of this light curve is correct, it represents the first discovery of a planet orbiting a binary star system and the first detection of a Jovian planet via the gravitational microlensing technique. It suggests that giant planets may be common in short period binary star systems.
Becker Andrew C.
Bennett David P.
Butler Nat
Dann J.
Kaspi Shai
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