Characterization of the hot Neptune GJ 436 b with Spitzer and ground-based observations

Demory, B.-O.; Gillon, M.; Barman, T.; Bonfils, X.; Mayor, M.; Mazeh, T.; Queloz, D.; Udry, S.; Bouchy, F.; Delfosse, X.; Forveille, T.; Mallmann, F.; Pepe, F.; Perrier, C. (2007). Characterization of the hot Neptune GJ 436 b with Spitzer and ground-based observations. Astronomy and astrophysics, 475(3), pp. 1125-1129. EDP Sciences 10.1051/0004-6361:20078354

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We present Spitzer Space Telescope infrared photometry of a secondary eclipse of the hot Neptune GJ 436 b. The observations were obtained using the 8-μm band of the InfraRed Array Camera (IRAC). The data spanning the predicted time of secondary eclipse show a clear flux decrement with the expected shape and duration. The observed eclipse depth of 0.58 mmag allows us to estimate a blackbody brightness temperature of Tp = 717 ± 35 K at 8 μm. We compare this infrared flux measurement to a model of the planetary thermal emission, and show that this model reproduces properly the observed flux decrement. The timing of the secondary eclipse confirms the non-zero orbital eccentricity of the planet, while also increasing its precision (e = 0.14 ± 0.01). Additional new spectroscopic and photometric observations allow us to estimate the rotational period of the star and to assess the potential presence of another planet.

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