Bibcode
Murgas, F.; Pallé, E.; Zapatero Osorio, M. R.; Nortmann, L.; Hoyer, S.; Cabrera-Lavers, A.
Bibliographical reference
Astronomy and Astrophysics, Volume 563, id.A41, 14 pp.
Advertised on:
3
2014
Journal
Citations
64
Refereed citations
58
Description
Aims: In this work, we use long-slit spectroscopy observations of
a transit event of the close-in orbiting planet WASP-43b (Mp
= 2.034 MJup, Rp = 1.036 RJup) in an
effort to detect its atmosphere. Methods: We used the Gran
Telescopio Canarias (GTC) instrument OSIRIS to obtain long-slit spectra
in the optical range 520-1040 nm of the planetary host star WASP-43 and
of a reference star during a full primary transit event and four partial
transit observations. We integrated the stellar flux of both stars in
different wavelength regions producing several light curves. We fitted
transit models to these curves to measure the star-to-planet radius
ratio, Rp/Rs, across wavelength among other
physical parameters. Results: We measure a mean planet-to-star
radius ratio in the white light curve of
0.15988-0.00145+0.00133. Using broadband filters,
we detect the color signature of WASP-43. We present a tentative
detection in the planet-to-star radius ratio around the Na i doublet
(λ 588.9, 589.5 nm) when compared to the nearby continuum at the
2.9σ level. We find no significant excess of the measured
planet-to-star radius ratio around the K i doublet (λ 766.5 nm,
769.9 nm) when compared to the nearby continuum. Combining our
observations with previously published epochs, we refine the estimation
of the orbital period. Using a linear ephemeris, we obtained a period of
P = 0.81347385 ± 1.5 × 10-7 days. Using a
quadratic ephemeris, we obtained an orbital period of 0.81347688
± 8.6 × 10-7 days, and a change in this
parameter of Ṗ = -0.15 ± 0.06 s/year. As previous results,
this hints to the orbital decay of this planet although a timing
analysis over several years needs to be made to confirm this.
Photometry is only available at the CDS via anonymous ftp to http://cdsarc.u-strasbg.fr
(ftp://130.79.128.5) or via http://cdsarc.u-strasbg.fr/viz-bin/qcat?J/A+A/563/A41Appendix
is available in electronic form at http://www.aanda.org
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Enric
Pallé Bago