NASA Logo

NTRS

NTRS - NASA Technical Reports Server

Back to Results
Detection of the Secondary Eclipse of Exoplanet HAT P-11bWe have successfully conducted secondary eclipse observations of exoplanet HAT-P-11b using the Spitzer Space Telescope. HAT-P-11b was, until very recently, the smallest transiting extrasolar planet yet found and one of only two known exo-Neptunes. We observed the system at 3.6 microns for a period of 22 hours centered on the anticipated secondary eclipse time, to detect the eclipse and determine its phase. Having detected the secondary eclipse, we are at present making a more focused series of observations in both the 3.6 and 4.5 micron bands to fully characterize it. HAT-P-11b has a period of 4.8878 days, radius of 0.422 RJ, mass of 0.081 MJ and semi-major axis 0.053 AU. Measurements of the secondary eclipse will serve to clarify two key issues; 1) the planetary brightness temperature and the nature of its atmosphere, and 2) the eccentricity of its orbit, with implications for its dynamical evolution. A precise determination of the orbit phase for the secondary eclipse will also be of great utility for Kepler observations of this system at visible wavelengths.
Document ID
20100031190
Acquisition Source
Goddard Space Flight Center
Document Type
Conference Paper
Authors
Barry, R. K.
(NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt, MD, United States)
Deming, L. D.
(NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt, MD, United States)
Bakos, G.
(Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics Cambridge, MA, United States)
Harrington, J.
(University of Central Florida Orlando, FL, United States)
Madhusudhan, N.
(Massachusetts Inst. of Tech. Cambridge, MA, United States)
Noyes, R.
(Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics Cambridge, MA, United States)
Seager, S.
(Massachusetts Inst. of Tech. Cambridge, MA, United States)
Date Acquired
August 25, 2013
Publication Date
September 18, 2010
Subject Category
Astronomy
Meeting Information
Meeting: European Planetary Science Congress 2010 Copernicus Meetings
Location: Rome
Country: Italy
Start Date: September 18, 2010
End Date: September 26, 2010
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Other

Available Downloads

There are no available downloads for this record.
No Preview Available