NOAO > Observing Info > Approved Programs > 2011B-0131
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NOAO > Observing Info > Approved Programs > 2011B-0131 |
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PI: Luigi R. Bedin, Space Telescope Science Institute, bedin@stsci.edu
Address: 3700 San Martin Drive, Baltimore, MD 21210, USA
CoI: Howard E. Bond, Space Telescope Science Institute
CoI: Valerio Nascimbeni, Universit\a` degli Studi di Padova
CoI: Giampaolo Piotto, Universit\a` degli Studi di Padova
Title: Transit-Time Variations in the WASP-5 Exoplanetary System: A Third Body?
Abstract: By performing accurate timings of exoplanet transits, it is possible to detect deviations from a linear ephemeris. From these transit-time variations (TTVs), one can test for the presence of a third, perturbing body in the system, and if one is present infer its orbital period and mass. Recently, Fukui et al. (2010) have claimed the detection of a TTV with a ~50 s amplitude for the southern-hemisphere ``hot Jupiter'' WASP-5b. This would be the first TTV detected for a southern exoplanet. The parameters of the perturber are still poorly constrained because the available data are too noisy and/or sparsely sampled. A confirmation is urgently needed. We propose to observe seven complete transits of WASP-5b with the CTIO 0.9m telescope in service-observing mode, using differential photometry and analysis software specially developed for this project by the TASTE team headquartered at the Asiago Observatory. If we confirm the TTVs of WASP-5b, we will be able to constrain the mass and nature (substellar or planetary?) of the perturber.
National Optical Astronomy Observatory, 950 North Cherry Avenue, P.O. Box 26732, Tucson, Arizona 85726, Phone: (520) 318-8000, Fax: (520) 318-8360
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NOAO > Observing Info > Approved Programs > 2011B-0131 |
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