TASTE. III. A homogeneous study of transit time variations in WASP-3b

Date

2012

Authors

Nascimbeni, V
Cunial, A
Murabito, S
Sada, P V
Aparicio, A
Piotto, G
Bedin, L R
Milone, Antonino
Rosenberg, A
Malavolta, L

Journal Title

Journal ISSN

Volume Title

Publisher

Springer

Abstract

The TASTE project is searching for low-mass planets with the transit timing variation (TTV) technique by gathering high-precision, short-cadence light curves for a selected sample of transiting exoplanets. It has been claimed that the "hot Jupiter" WASP-3b could be perturbed by a second planet. Presenting eleven new light curves (secured at the IAC80 and UDEM telescopes) and re-analyzing thirty-eight archival light curves in a homogeneous way, we show that new data do not confirm the previously claimed TTV signal. However, we bring evidence that measurements are not consistent with a constant orbital period, though no significant periodicity can be detected. Additional dynamical modeling and follow-up observations are planned to constrain the properties of the perturber or to put upper limits to it. We provide a refined ephemeris for WASP-3b and improved orbital/physical parameters. A contact eclipsing binary, serendipitously discovered among field stars, is reported here for the first time.

Description

Keywords

Keywords: Dynamical modeling; Eclipsing binaries; Exo-planets; High-precision; Jupiters; Light curves; Low-mass; Orbital periods; Planetary system; Stars: individual; Techniques: photometric; Transit time; Transit timing; Upper limits; Astronomy; Astrophysics; Star Planetary systems; Stars: individual: WASP-3; Techniques: photometric

Citation

Source

Astronomy and Astrophysics

Type

Journal article

Book Title

Entity type

Access Statement

Open Access

License Rights

Restricted until