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arXiv · 1607.02525

Direct Imaging Discovery of a Jovian Exoplanet Within a Triple Star System

Kevin Wagner·Dániel Apai·Markus Kasper·Kaitlin Kratter·Melissa McClure·Massimo Robberto·Jean-Luc Beuzit
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Abstract

Direct imaging allows for the detection and characterization of exoplanets via their thermal emission. We report the discovery via imaging of a young Jovian planet in a triple star system and characterize its atmospheric properties through near-infrared spectroscopy. The semi-major axis of the planet is closer relative to that of its hierarchical triple star system than for any known exoplanet within a stellar binary or triple, making HD 131399 dynamically unlike any other known system. The location of HD 131399Ab on a wide orbit in a triple system demonstrates that massive planets may be found on long and possibly unstable orbits in multi-star systems. HD 131399Ab is one of the lowest mass (4+/-1 MJup) and coldest (850+/-50 K) exoplanets to have been directly imaged.

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Kevin Wagner, Dániel Apai, Markus Kasper, Kaitlin Kratter, Melissa McClure, Massimo Robberto, Jean-Luc Beuzit. 2016-07-08. Direct Imaging Discovery of a Jovian Exoplanet Within a Triple Star System. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.aaf9671

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