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arXiv · astro-ph/0605414

A Transiting Planet of a Sun-like Star

Abstract

A planet transits an 11th magnitude, G1V star in the constellation Corona Borealis. We designate the planet XO-1b, and the star, XO-1, also known as GSC 02041-01657. XO-1 lacks a trigonometric distance; we estimate it to be 200+-20 pc. Of the ten stars currently known to host extrasolar transiting planets, the star XO-1 is the most similar to the Sun in its physical characteristics: its radius is 1.0+-0.08 R_Sun, its mass is 1.0+-0.03 M_Sun, V sini < 3 km/s, and its metallicity [Fe/H] is 0.015+-0.04. The orbital period of the planet XO-1b is 3.941534+-0.000027 days, one of the longer ones known. The planetary mass is 0.90+-0.07 M_Jupiter, which is marginally larger than that of other transiting planets with periods between 3 and 4 days. Both the planetary radius and the inclination are functions of the spectroscopically determined stellar radius. If the stellar radius is 1.0+-0.08 R_Sun, then the planetary radius is 1.30+-0.11 R_Jupiter and the inclination of the orbit is 87.7+-1.2 degrees. We have demonstrated a productive international collaboration between professional and amateur astronomers that was important to distinguishing this planet from many other similar candidates.

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P. R. McCullough, J. E. Stys, Jeff A. Valenti, C. M. Johns-Krull, K. A. Janes, J. N. Heasley, B. A. Bye, C. Dodd, S. W. Fleming, A. Pinnick, R. Bissinger, B. L. Gary, P. J. Howell, T. Vanmunster. 2006-05-17. A Transiting Planet of a Sun-like Star. https://doi.org/10.1086/505651

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