GJ 832c: A super-earth in the habitable zone

R. A. Wittenmyer; Mikko Tuomi; R. P. Butler; H. R. A. Jones; Guillem Anglada-Escude; Jonathan Horner; C. G. Tinney; J. P. Marshall; B. D. Carter; J. Bailey; G. S. Salter; S. J. O'Toole; D. Wright; J. D. Crane; S. A. Schectman; P. Arriagada; I. Thompson; D. Minniti; J. S. Jenkins; M. Diaz

doi:10.1088/0004-637x/791/2/114

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arXiv · 1406.5587

GJ 832c: A super-earth in the habitable zone

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Abstract

We report the detection of GJ 832c, a super-Earth orbiting near the inner edge of the habitable zone of GJ 832, an M dwarf previously known to host a Jupiter analog in a nearly-circular 9.4-year orbit. The combination of precise radial-velocity measurements from three telescopes reveals the presence of a planet with a period of 35.68+/-0.03 days and minimum mass (m sin i) of 5.4+/-1.0 Earth masses. GJ 832c moves on a low-eccentricity orbit (e=0.18+/-0.13) towards the inner edge of the habitable zone. However, given the large mass of the planet, it seems likely that it would possess a massive atmosphere, which may well render the planet inhospitable. Indeed, it is perhaps more likely that GJ 832c is a "super-Venus," featuring significant greenhouse forcing. With an outer giant planet and an interior, potentially rocky planet, the GJ 832 planetary system can be thought of as a miniature version of our own Solar system.

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R. A. Wittenmyer, Mikko Tuomi, R. P. Butler, H. R. A. Jones, Guillem Anglada-Escude, Jonathan Horner, C. G. Tinney, J. P. Marshall, B. D. Carter, J. Bailey, G. S. Salter, S. J. O'Toole, D. Wright, J. D. Crane, S. A. Schectman, P. Arriagada, I. Thompson, D. Minniti, J. S. Jenkins, M. Diaz. 2014-06-21. GJ 832c: A super-earth in the habitable zone. https://doi.org/10.1088/0004-637x/791/2/114

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