2009ApJ...703.1086C -
Astrophys. J., 703, 1086-1095 (2009/September-3)
Benefits of ground-based photometric follow-up for transiting extrasolar planets discovered with Kepler and CoRoT.
COLON K.D. and FORD E.B.
Abstract (from CDS):
Currently, over 40 transiting planets have been discovered by ground-based photometric surveys, and space-based missions such as Kepler and CoRoT are expected to detect hundreds more. Follow-up photometric observations from the ground will play an important role in constraining both orbital and physical parameters for newly discovered planets, especially those with small radii (Rp≲ 4R⊕) and/or intermediate-to-long orbital periods (P≳ 30 days). Here, we simulate transit light curves (LCs) from Kepler-like photometry and ground-based observations in the near-infrared (NIR) to determine how jointly modeling space-based and ground-based LCs can improve measurements of the transit duration and planet-star radius ratio. We find that adding observations of at least one ground-based transit to space-based observations can significantly improve the accuracy for measuring the transit duration and planet-star radius ratio of small planets (Rp≲ 4R⊕) in long-period (∼1 year) orbits, largely thanks to the reduced effect of limb darkening in the NIR. We also demonstrate that multiple ground-based observations are needed to gain a substantial improvement in the measurement accuracy for small planets with short orbital periods (∼3 days). Finally, we consider the role that higher ground-based precisions will play in constraining parameter measurements for typical Kepler targets. Our results can help inform the priorities of transit follow-up programs (including both primary and secondary transit of planets discovered with Kepler and CoRoT), leading to improved constraints for transit durations, planet sizes, and orbital eccentricities.
Abstract Copyright:
∼
Journal keyword(s):
planetary systems - planets and satellites: general - techniques: photometric
Simbad objects:
1
Full paper
View the references in ADS
To bookmark this query, right click on this link: simbad:2009ApJ...703.1086C and select 'bookmark this link' or equivalent in the popup menu