Gillon, M.; Pont, F.; Demory, B.-O.; Mallmann, F.; Mayor, M.; Mazeh, T.; Queloz, D.; Shporer, A.; Udry, S.; Vuissoz, C. (2007). Detection of transits of the nearby hot Neptune GJ 436 b. Astronomy and astrophysics, 472(2), L13-L16. EDP Sciences 10.1051/0004-6361:20077799
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This Letter reports on the photometric detection of transits of the Neptune-mass planet orbiting the nearby M-dwarf star GJ 436. It is by far the closest, smallest, and least massive transiting planet detected so far. Its mass is slightly larger than Neptune's at M = 22.6 ± 1.9 M⊕. The shape and depth of the transit lightcurves show that it is crossing the host star disc near its limb (impact parameter 0.84 ± 0.03) and that the planet size is comparable to that of Uranus and Neptune, R = 25 2000 ± 2200 km = 3.95 ± 0.35 R⊕. Its main constituant is therefore very likely to be water ice. If the current planet structure models are correct, an outer layer of H/He constituting up to ten percent in mass is probably needed on top of the ice to account for the observed radius.
Item Type: |
Journal Article (Original Article) |
|---|---|
Division/Institute: |
10 Strategic Research Centers > Center for Space and Habitability (CSH) |
UniBE Contributor: |
Demory, Brice-Olivier Denys |
Subjects: |
500 Science > 520 Astronomy |
ISSN: |
0004-6361 |
Publisher: |
EDP Sciences |
Language: |
English |
Submitter: |
Brice-Olivier Denys Demory |
Date Deposited: |
05 Apr 2022 14:37 |
Last Modified: |
02 Mar 2023 23:34 |
Publisher DOI: |
10.1051/0004-6361:20077799 |
BORIS DOI: |
10.48350/153341 |
URI: |
https://boris.unibe.ch/id/eprint/153341 |
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