Astronomy and Astrophysics – Astronomy
Scientific paper
Jan 2012
adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=2012aas...21941401b&link_type=abstract
American Astronomical Society, AAS Meeting #219, #414.01
Astronomy and Astrophysics
Astronomy
Scientific paper
Analysis of current Kepler observations show the presence of 2000 candidate planets, over 2200 eclipsing binary stars, and variable stars of amazing variety. The sizes of planetary candidates range from that of Mars to over twice the size of Jupiter. Over 100 candidates are found in the habitable zone of the host stars. Candidates smaller than Earth in short period orbits are being detected. Circumbinary planets have been confirmed and many more await confirmation. Hundreds of multi-planet candidates have been found; some with as many as 6 planets. In addition to radial velocity measurements, the observed gravitational interaction between planets in near-resonant orbits is being used to determine planet masses and thus the density of the planets. Searches for planetary moons and rings are underway.
Ongoing follow-up spectroscopic observations and their analyses are providing improvements compared to the values in the Kepler Input Catalog for the stellar temperatures, sizes and metallicities for many of the stars that have become Kepler Objects of Interest. In turn, the new values of stellar properties contribute to better estimates of candidate size and association with stellar characteristics. Improvements to the data analysis pipeline now allow data taken during all quarters to be stitched together to form a contiguous time series that enhance the detection of small planetary candidates in long-period orbits. Intrinsic distributions of the candidates are being derived that allow estimates of the frequency distributions of planet size with semi-major axis and orbital period and to associate the results with stellar characteristics.
Borucki William. J.
Kepler Team
Koch David G.
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