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D. Segransan

Publications and source records attributed to D. Segransan.

At least 109 records · Page 6Linked to original sources

WASP-37b: a 1.8 MJ exoplanet transiting a metal-poor star

We report on the discovery of WASP-37b, a transiting hot Jupiter orbiting a mv = 12.7 G2-type dwarf, with a period of 3.577471 \pm 0.00001 d, transit epoch T0 = 2455338.6188 \pm 0.0006 (HJD), and a transit duration 0.1304 \pm 0.0018 d. The planetary companion has a mass Mp = 1.80 \pm 0.17 MJ and radius Rp = 1.16 \pm 0.07 RJ, yielding a mean density of 1.15 \pm 0.15 times that of Jupiter. From a spectral analysis and comparisons with stellar models, we find the host star has M* = 0.925 \pm 0.120 Msun, R* = 1.003 \pm 0.053 Rsun, Teff = 5800 \pm 150 K and [Fe/H] = -0.40 \pm 0.12. WASP-37 is therefore one of the lowest metallicity stars to host a transiting planet.

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WASP-25b: a 0.6 M_J planet in the Southern hemisphere

We report the detection of a 0.6 M_J extrasolar planet by WASP-South, WASP-25b, transiting its solar-type host star every 3.76 days. A simultaneous analysis of the WASP, FTS and Euler photometry and CORALIE spectroscopy yields a planet of R_p = 1.22 R_J and M_p = 0.58 M_J around a slightly metal-poor solar-type host star, [Fe/H] = -0.05 \pm 0.10, of R_{\ast} = 0.92 R_{\odot} and M_{\ast} = 1.00 M_{\odot}. WASP-25b is found to have a density of ρ_p = 0.32 ρ_J, a low value for a sub-Jupiter mass planet. We investigate the relationship of planetary radius to planetary equilibrium temperature and host star metallicity for transiting exoplanets with a similar mass to WASP-25b, finding that these two parameters explain the radii of most low-mass planets well.

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WASP-29b: A Saturn-sized transiting exoplanet

We report the discovery of a Saturn-sized planet transiting a V = 11.3, K4 dwarf star every 3.9 d. WASP-29b has a mass of 0.24+/-0.02 M_Jup and a radius of 0.79+/-0.05 R_Jup, making it the smallest planet so far discovered by the WASP survey, and the exoplanet most similar in mass and radius to Saturn. The host star WASP-29 has an above-Solar metallicity and fits a possible correlation for Saturn-mass planets such that planets with higher-metallicity host stars have higher core masses and thus smaller radii.

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WASP-26b: A 1-Jupiter-mass planet around an early-G-type star

We report the discovery of WASP-26b, a moderately over-sized Jupiter-mass exoplanet transiting its 11.3-magnitude early-G-type host star (1SWASP J001824.70-151602.3; TYC 5839-876-1) every 2.7566 days. A simultaneous fit to transit photometry and radial-velocity measurements yields a planetary mass of 1.02 +/- 0.03 M_Jup and radius of 1.32 +/- 0.08 R_Jup. The host star, WASP-26, has a mass of 1.12 +/- 0.03 M_sun and a radius of 1.34 +/- 0.06 R_sun and is in a visual double with a fainter K-type star. The two stars are at least a common-proper motion pair with a common distance of around 250 +/- 15 pc and an age of 6 +/- 2 Gy.

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Observation of the full 12-hour-long transit of the exoplanet HD80606b. Warm-Spitzer photometry and SOPHIE spectroscopy

We present new observations of a transit of the 111-day-period exoplanet HD80606b. Using the Spitzer Space Telescope and its IRAC camera on the post-cryogenic mission, we performed a 19-hour-long photometric observation of HD80606 that covers the full transit of 13-14 January 2010. We complement this photometric data by new spectroscopic observations that we simultaneously performed with SOPHIE at Haute-Provence Observatory. This provides radial velocity measurements of the first half of the transit that was previously uncovered with spectroscopy. This new data set allows the parameters of this singular planetary system to be significantly refined. We obtained a planet-to-star radius ratio R_p/R_* = 0.1001 +/- 0.0006 that is slightly lower than the one measured from previous ground observations. We detected a feature in the Spitzer light curve that could be due to a stellar spot. We also found a transit timing about 20 minutes earlier than the ephemeris prediction; this could be caused by actual TTVs due to an additional body in the system or by underestimated systematic uncertainties. The sky-projected angle between the spin-axis of HD80606 and the normal to the planetary orbital plane is found to be lambda = 42 +/- 8 degrees thanks to the fit of the Rossiter-McLaughlin anomaly. This allows scenarios with aligned spin-orbit to be definitively rejected. Over the twenty planetary systems with measured spin-orbit angles, a few of them are misaligned; this is probably the signature of two different evolution scenarios for misaligned and aligned systems, depending if they experienced or not gravitational interaction with a third body. As in the case of HD80606b, most of the planetary systems including a massive planet are tilted; this could be the signature of a separate evolution scenario for massive planets in comparison with Jupiter-mass planets.

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Evidence against the young hot-Jupiter around BD +20 1790

Context. The young active star BD +20 1790 is believed to host a substellar companion, revealed by radial-velocity measurements that detected the reflex motion induced on the parent star. Aims. A complete characterisation of the radial-velocity signal is necessary in order to assess its nature. Methods. We used CORALIE spectrograph to obtain precise (~10 m/s) velocity measurements on this active star, while characterizing the bisector span variations. Particular attention was given to correctly sample both the proposed planetary orbital period, of 7.8 days, and the stellar rotation period, of 2.4 days. Results. A smaller radial-velocity signal (with peak-to-peak variations <500 m/s) than had been reported previously was detected, with different amplitude on two different campaigns. A periodicity similar to the rotational period is found on the data, as well as a clear correlation between radial-velocities and bisector span. This evidence points towards a stellar origin of the radial-velocity variations of the star instead of a barycentric movement of the star, and repudiates the reported detection of a hot-Jupiter.

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The Spitzer search for the transits of HARPS low-mass planets - I. No transit for the super-Earth HD 40307b

We have used Spitzer and its IRAC camera to search for the transit of the super-Earth HD 40307b. The transiting nature of the planet could not be firmly discarded from our first photometric monitoring of a transit window because of the uncertainty coming from the modeling of the photometric baseline. To obtain a firm result, two more transit windows were observed and a global Bayesian analysis of the three IRAC time series and the HARPS radial velocities was performed. Unfortunately, any transit of the planet during the observed phase window is firmly discarded, while the probability that the planet transits but that the eclipse was missed by our observations is nearly negligible (0.26%).

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The SOPHIE search for northern extrasolar planets. II. A multi-planet system around HD9446

We report the discovery of a planetary system around HD9446, performed from radial velocity measurements secured with the spectrograph SOPHIE at the 193-cm telescope of the Haute-Provence Observatory during more than two years. At least two planets orbit this G5V, active star: HD9446b has a minimum mass of 0.7 M_Jup and a slightly eccentric orbit with a period of 30 days, whereas HD9446c has a minimum mass of 1.8 M_Jup and a circular orbit with a period of 193 days. As for most of the known multi-planet systems, the HD9446-system presents a hierarchical disposition, with a massive outer planet and a lighter inner planet.

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WASP-19b: the shortest period transiting exoplanet yet discovered

We report on the discovery of a new extremely short period transiting extrasolar planet, WASP-19b. The planet has mass Mpl = 1.15 \pm 0.08 MJ, radius Rpl = 1.31 \pm 0.06 RJ, and orbital period P = 0.7888399 \pm 0.0000008 days. Through spectroscopic analysis, we determine the host star to be a slightly super-solar metallicity ([M/H] = 0.1 \pm 0.1 dex) G-dwarf with Teff = 5500 \pm 100 K. In addition, we detect periodic, sinusoidal flux variations in the light curve which are used to derive a rotation period for the star of Prot = 10.5 \pm 0.2 days. The relatively short stellar rotation period suggests that either WASP-19 is somewhat young (~ 600 Myr old) or tidal interactions between the two bodies have caused the planet to spiral inward over its lifetime resulting in the spin-up of the star. Due to the detection of the rotation period, this system has the potential to place strong constraints on the stellar tidal quality factor, Q's, if a more precise age is determined.

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The HARPS search for southern extra-solar planets. XX. Planets around the active star BD-08:2823

We report the detection of a planetary system around BD-08:2823, that includes at least one Uranus-mass planet and one Saturn-mass planet. This discovery serendipitously originates from a search for planetary transits in the Hipparcos photometry database. This program preferentially selected active stars and did not allow the detection of new transiting planets. It allowed however the identification of the K3V star BD-08:2823 as a target harboring a multiplanet system, that we secured and characterized thanks to an intensive monitoring with the HARPS spectrograph at the 3.6-m ESO telescope in La Silla. The stellar activity level of BD-08:2823 complicates the analysis but does not prohibit the detection of two planets around this star. BD-08:2823b has a minimum mass of 14.4+/-2.1 M_Earth and an orbital period of 5.60 days, whereas BD-08:2823c has a minimum mass of 0.33+/-0.03 M_Jup and an orbital period of 237.6 days. This new system strengthens the fact that low-mass planets are preferentially found in multiplanetary systems, but not around high-metallicity stars as this is the case for massive planets. It also supports the belief that active stars should not be neglected in exoplanet searches, even when searching for low-mass planets.

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Detecting and characterizing extrasolar planetary systems with astrometry: review from the Blue Dots astrometry working group

The astrometry technique is an important tool for detecting and characterizing exoplanets of different type. In this review, the different projects which are either operating, in construction or in discussion are presented and their performance discussed in the framework of the Blue Dots study. We investigate the sensitivity of astrometry to different sources of noise and we show that astrometry is a key technique in the path of discovering and characterizing new types of planets including the very challenging category of Earth-like planets orbiting the habitable zone of solar-type stars.

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Extrasolar planets and brown dwarfs around A-F type stars - VII. Theta Cygni radial velocity variations: planets or stellar phenomenon?

(abridged) In the frame of the search for extrasolar planets and brown dwarfs around early-type main-sequence stars, we present the results obtained on the early F-type star Theta Cygni. Elodie and Sophie at OHP were used to obtain the spectra. Our dedicated radial-velocity measurement method was used to monitor the star's radial velocities over five years. We also use complementary, high angular resolution and high-contrast images taken with PUEO at CFHT. We show that Theta Cygni radial velocities are quasi-periodically variable, with a ~150-day period. These variations are not due to the ~0.35-Msun stellar companion that we detected in imaging at more than 46 AU from the star. The absence of correlation between the bisector velocity span variations and the radial velocity variations for this 7 km/s vsini star, as well as other criteria indicate that the observed radial velocity variations are not due to stellar spots. The observed amplitude of the bisector velocity span variations also seems to rule out stellar pulsations. However, we observe a peak in the bisector velocity span periodogram at the same period as the one found in the radial velocity periodogram, which indicates a probable link between these radial velocity variations and the low amplitude lineshape variations which are of stellar origin. Long-period variations are not expected from this type of star to our knowledge. If a stellar origin (hence of new type) was to be confirmed for these long-period radial velocity variations, this would have several consequences on the search for planets around main-sequence stars, both in terms of observational strategy and data analysis. An alternative explanation for these variable radial velocities is the presence of at least one planet of a few Jupiter masses orbiting at less than 1 AU. (abridged)

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The CORALIE survey for southern extrasolar planets. XVI. Discovery of a planetary system around HD 147018 and of two long period and massive planets orbiting HD 171238 and HD 204313

We report the detection of a double planetary system around HD 140718 as well as the discovery of two long period and massive planets orbiting HD 171238 and HD 204313. Those discoveries were made with the CORALIE Echelle spectrograph mounted on the 1.2-m Euler Swiss telescope located at La Silla Observatory, Chile. The planetary system orbiting the nearby G9 dwarf HD 147018 is composed of an eccentric inner planet (e=0.47) with twice the mass of Jupiter (2.1 MJup ) and with an orbital period of 44.24 days. The outer planet is even more massive (6.6 MJup) with a slightly eccentric orbit (e=0.13) and a period of 1008 days. The planet orbiting HD 171238 has a minimum mass of 2.6 MJup, a period of 1523 days and an eccentricity of 0.40. It orbits a G8 dwarfs at 2.5 AU. The last planet, HD 204313 b, is a 4.0 MJup -planet with a period of 5.3 years and has a low eccentricity (e = 0.13). It orbits a G5 dwarfs at 3.1 AU. The three parent stars are metal rich, which further strengthened the case that massive planets tend to form around metal rich stars.

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Precision multi-epoch astrometry with VLT cameras FORS1/2

We investigate the astrometric performance of the FORS1 and FORS2 cameras of the VLT at long time scales with emphasis on systematic errors which normally prevent attainning a precision better than 1mas. The study is based on multi- epoch time series of observations of a single sky region imaged with a time spacing of 2-6 years at FORS1 and 1-5 months at FORS2. We performed a detailed analysis of a random error of positions that was shown to be dominated by the uncertainty of the star photocenter determination. The component of the random error corresponding to image motion was found to be caused primarily by optical aberrations and variations of atmospheric PSF size but not by the effect of atmospheric image motion. Comparison of observed and model annual/monthly epoch average positions yielded estimates of systematic errors for which temporal properties and distribution in the CCD plane are given. At frame center, the systematic component is about 25 mu-as. Systematic errors are shown to be caused mainly by a combined effect of the image asymmetry and seeing variations which therefore should be strongly limited to avoid generating random and systematic errors. For a series of 30 images, we demonstrated presicion of about 50 mu-as stable on daily, monthly, and annual time scales. Relative proper motion and trigonometric parallaxes of stars in the center of the test field were derived with a precision of 20 mu-as/yr and 40 mu-as for 17-19 mag stars.

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WASP-16b: A new Jupiter-like planet transiting a southern solar analog

We report the discovery from WASP-South of a new Jupiter-like extrasolar planet, WASP-16b, which transits its solar analog host star every 3.12 days. Analysis of the transit photometry and radial velocity spectroscopic data leads to a planet with R_p = 1.008+-0.071 R_Jup and M_p =0.855+-0.059 M_Jup, orbiting a host star with R_* = 0.946+-0.054 R_sun and M_* = 1.022+-0.101 M_sun. Comparison of the high resolution stellar spectrum with synthetic spectra and stellar evolution models indicates the host star is a near-solar metallicity ([Fe/H]= 0.01+-0.10) solar analog (Teff = 5700+-150 K, log g= 4.5+-0.2) of intermediate age (Tau = 2.3+5.8-2.2 Gyr).

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Mass-radius relation of low and very low-mass stars revisited with the VLTI

We measured the radii of 7 low and very low-mass stars using long baseline interferometry with the VLTI interferometer and its VINCI and AMBER near-infrared recombiners. We use these new data, together with literature measurements, to examine the luminosity- radius and mass-radius relations for K and M dwarfs. The precision of the new interferometric radii now competes with what can be obtained for double-lined eclipsing binaries. Interferometry provides access to much less active stars, as well as to stars with much better measured distances and luminosities, and therefore complements the information obtained from eclipsing systems. The radii of magnetically quiet late-K to M dwarfs match the predictions of stellar evolution models very well, providing direct confirmation that magnetic activity explains the discrepancy that was recently found for magnetically active eclipsing systems. The radii of the early K dwarfs are well reproduced for a mixing length parameter that approaches the solar value, as qualitatively expected.

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Photometric and spectroscopic detection of the primary transit of the 111-day-period planet HD 80606 b

We report the detection of the primary transit of the extra-solar planet HD 80606 b, thanks to photometric and spectroscopic observations performed at Observatoire de Haute-Provence, simultaneously with the CCD camera at the 120-cm telescope and the SOPHIE spectrograph at the 193-cm telescope. We observed the whole egress of the transit and partially its central part, in both data sets with the same timings. The ingress occurred before sunset and was not observed. The full duration of the transit was between 9.5 and 17.2 hours. The data allows the planetary radius to be measured (Rp = 0.9 +- 0.1 RJup) and other parameters of the system to be refined. Radial velocity measurements show the detection of a prograde Rossiter-McLaughlin effect, and provide a hint for a spin-orbit misalignment. If confirmed, this misalignment would corroborate the hypothesis that HD 80606 b owes its unusual orbital configuration to Kozai migration. HD 80606 b is by far the transiting planet on the longest period detected today. Its unusually small radius reinforces the observed relationship between the planet radius and the incident flux received from the star and opens new questions for theory. Orbiting a quite bright star (V=9), it opens opportunities to numerous follow-up studies.

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The low density transiting exoplanet WASP-15b

We report the discovery of a low-density exoplanet transiting an 11th magnitude star in the Southern hemisphere. WASP-15b, which orbits its host star with a period P=3.7520656+-0.0000028d has a mass M_p=0.542+-0.050M_J and radius R_p=1.428+-0.077R_J, and is therefore the one of least dense transiting exoplanets so far discovered (rho_p=0.247+-0.035g cm^-3). An analysis of the spectrum of the host star shows it to be of spectral type around F5, with an effective temperature T_eff=6300+-100K and [Fe/H]=-0.17+-0.11.

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