Transit timing effects due to an exomoon

Details Transit timing effects due to an exomoon Transit timing effects due to an exomoon

2008-10-13

arxiv.org/abs/0810.2243v2

Mon. Not. R. Astron. Soc., 2009, Volume 392, Issue 3, pp. 181-189

Astronomy and Astrophysics

Astrophysics

10 pages, 3 figures, 1 table, notation updated

Scientific paper

10.1111/j.1365-2966.2008.13999.x

As the number of known exoplanets continues to grow, the question as to whether such bodies harbour satellite systems has become one of increasing interest. In this paper, we explore the transit timing effects that should be detectable due to an exomoon and predict a new observable. We first consider transit time variation (TTV), where we update the model to include the effects of orbital eccentricity. We draw two key conclusions: 1) In order to maintain Hill stability, the orbital frequency of the exomoon will always be higher than the sampling frequency. Therefore, the period of the exomoon cannot be reliably determined from TTV, only a set of harmonic frequencies. 2) The TTV amplitude is proportional to M_S a_S where M_S is the exomoon mass and a_S is the semi-major axis of the moon's orbit. Therefore, M_S and a_S cannot be separately determined. We go on to predict a new observable due to exomoons - transit duration variation (TDV). We derive the TDV amplitude and conclude that its amplitude is not only detectable, but the TDV signal will provide two robust advantages: 1) The TDV amplitude is proportional to M_S a_S^{-1/2} and therefore the ratio of TTV and TDV allows for a separate determination of M_S and a_S. 2) TDV has a 90 degrees phase difference to the TTV signal, making it an excellent complementary technique.

Affiliated with

Also associated with

No associations

Rating

Transit timing effects due to an exomoon 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 Transit timing effects due to an exomoon, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Transit timing effects due to an exomoon will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

Comments { 0 }

Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-720260