SuperWASP Results

Abstract wrote:We report the discovery of WASP-10b, a new transiting extrasolar planet (ESP) discovered by the WASP Consortium and confirmed using NOT FIES and SOPHIE radial velocity data. A 3.09 day period, 33 mmag transit depth, and 2.36 hour duration are derived for WASP-10b using WASP and high precision photometric observations. Simultaneous fitting to the photometric and radial velocity data using a Markov-chain Monte Carlo procedure leads to a planet radius of 1.29R_J, a mass of 3.06M_J and eccentricity of $\approx$0.06. WASP-10b is one of the more massive transiting ESPs, and we compare its characteristics to the current sample of transiting ESP, where there is currently little information for masses greater than ~2M_J and non-zero eccentricities. WASP-10's host star, GSC 2752-00114 (USNO-B1.0 1214-0586164) is among the fainter stars in the WASP sample, with V=12.7 and a spectral type of K5. This result shows promise for future late-type dwarf star surveys.

Abstract wrote:We report the discovery of a 7.7 Mjup exoplanet WASP-14b, one of the most massive transiting exoplanets observed to date. The planet orbits the tenth-magnitude F5V star USNO-B1 11118-0262485 with a period of 2.243756 days and orbital eccentricity e = 0.095. A simultaneous fit of the transit light curve and radial velocity measurements yields a planetary mass of 7.7(+0.4)(-0.7) Mjup and a radius of 1.26(+0.08 ) (-0.06) Rjup. This leads to a mean density of about 5.1 gcm^{-3} making it one of the densest transiting exoplanets yet found at an orbital period less than 3 days. We estimate this system to be at a distance of 160+/-20 pc. Spectral analysis of the host star reveals a temperature of 6475+/-100 K, log g = 4.33 cms$^{-2}$ and v sin i = 4.9+/-1.0 km s$^{-1}$, and also a high lithium abundance, log N(Li) = 2.84+/-0.05. The stellar density, effective temperature and rotation rate suggest an age for the system of about 0.5--1.0 Gyr.

We note that a similar object has been announced by the SuperWASP team (WASP-11b), but details (such as identification) are unavailable as yet.

Lazarus wrote:Wonder which one of the two entries EPE is going to delete...

Abstract wrote:We report on the discovery of WASP-12b, a new transiting extrasolar planet with R_pl=1.83^+0.09_-0.11 R_J and M_pl=1.45^+0.07_-0.15 M_J. The planet and host star properties were derived from a Monte Carlo Markov Chain analysis of the transit photometry and radial velocity data. Furthermore, by comparing the stellar spectrum with theoretical spectra and stellar evolution models, we determined that the host star is a super-solar metallicity ([M/H]=0.3^+0.05_-0.15), late-F (T_eff}=6300⁺²⁰⁰_-100~K) star which is evolving off the zero age main sequence. The planet has an equilibrium temperature of T_eq =2525~K caused by its very short period orbit (P=1.09~days) around the hot, 12th magnitude host star. WASP-12b has the largest radius of any transiting planet yet detected. It is also the most heavily irradiated and the shortest period planet in the literature.

Lazarus wrote:Ok cool, thought so but just wanted to make sure.

UniverseToday wrote:Now, SuperWASP researchers hope to probe the planetary system for UV light radiating from the exoplanet, possibly showing evidence that WASP-12b's atmosphere is undergoing aggressive stripping or evaporation at such close proximity to the host star.