Hot Jupiter HD 209458b Observed to Have Atmospheric Superrotation

The 4.5 μm full-orbit phase curve of the hot Jupiter HD 209458b

Authors:

Zellem et al

Abstract:

he hot Jupiter HD 209458b is particularly amenable to detailed study as it is among the brightest transiting exoplanet systems currently known (V-mag = 7.65; K-mag = 6.308) and has a large planet-to-star contrast ratio. HD 209458b is predicted to be in synchronous rotation about its host star with a hot spot that is shifted eastward of the substellar point by superrotating equatorial winds. Here we present the first full-orbit observations of HD 209458b, in which its 4.5 $\mu$m emission was recorded with $Spitzer$/IRAC. Our study revises the previous 4.5 $\mu$m measurement of HD 209458b's secondary eclipse emission downward by $\sim$35 % to $0.1391\%^{+0.0072\%}_{-0.0069\%}$,changing our interpretation of the properties of its dayside atmosphere. We find that the hot spot on the planet's dayside is shifted eastward of the substellar point by $40.9^{\circ}\pm{6.0^{\circ}}$, in agreement with circulation models predicting equatorial superrotation. HD 209458b's dayside (T$_{bright}$ = 1499 $\pm$ 15 K) and nightside (T$_{bright}$ = 972 $\pm$ 44 K) emission indicates a day-to-night brightness temperature contrast smaller than that observed for more highly irradiated exoplanets, suggesting that the day-to-night temperature contrast may be partially a function of the incident stellar radiation. The observed phase curve shape deviates modestly from global circulation model predictions potentially due to disequilibrium chemistry or deficiencies in the current hot CH$_{4}$ line lists used in these models. Observations of the phase curve at additional wavelengths are needed in order to determine the possible presence and spatial extent of a dayside temperature inversion, as well as to improve our overall understanding of this planet's atmospheric circulation.