EPIC 219388192B: a hot Brown Dwarfin a 5.3 day Orbit

EPIC 219388192 b - an inhabitant of the brown dwarf desert in the Ruprecht 147 open cluster

Authors:

Nowak et al

Abstract:

We report the discovery of EPIC 219388192 b, a transiting brown dwarf in a 5.3-day orbit around a member star of Ruprecht-147, the oldest nearby open cluster association, which was photometrically monitored by K2 during its Campaign 7. We combine the K2 time-series data with ground-based adaptive optics imaging and high resolution spectroscopy to rule out false positive scenarios and determine the main parameters of the system. EPIC 219388192 b has a radius of Rb=0.937±0.042~RJup and mass of Mb=36.50±0.09~MJup, yielding a mean density of 59.0±8.1~gcm−3. The host star is nearly a Solar twin with mass M⋆=0.99±0.05~M⊙, radius R⋆=1.01±0.04~R⊙, effective temperature Teff=5850±85~K and iron abundance [Fe/H]=0.03±0.08~dex. Its age, spectroscopic distance, and reddening are consistent with those of Ruprecht-147, corroborating its cluster membership. EPIC 219388192 b is the first brown dwarf with precise determinations of mass, radius and age, and serves as benchmark for evolutionary models in the sub-stellar regime.

Protoplanetary and Transitional Disks in the Open Stellar Cluster IC 2395

Protoplanetary and Transitional Disks in the Open Stellar Cluster IC 2395

Authors:

Balog et al

Abstract:

We present new deep UBVRI images and high-resolution multi-object optical spectroscopy of the young (~ 6 - 10 Myr old), relatively nearby (800 pc) open cluster IC 2395. We identify nearly 300 cluster members and use the photometry to estimate their spectral types, which extend from early B to middle M. We also present an infrared imaging survey of the central region using the IRAC and MIPS instruments on board the Spitzer Space Telescope, covering the wavelength range from 3.6 to 24 microns. Our infrared observations allow us to detect dust in circumstellar disks originating over a typical range of radii ~ 0.1 to ~ 10AU from the central star. We identify 18 Class II, 8 transitional disk, and 23 debris disk candidates, respectively 6.5%, 2.9%, and 8.3% of the cluster members with appropriate data. We apply the same criteria for transitional disk identification to 19 other stellar clusters and associations spanning ages from ~ 1 to ~ 18 Myr. We find that the number of disks in the transitional phase as a fraction of the total with strong 24 micron excesses ([8] - [24] > 1.5) increases from 8.4 +\- 1.3% at ~ 3 Myr to 46 +\- 5% at ~ 10 Myr. Alternative definitions of transitional disks will yield different percentages but should show the same trend.

Search for exoplanets and variable stars within the open cluster M67 (NGC 2682)

A PSF-based approach to Kepler/K2 data – III. Search for exoplanets and variable stars within the open cluster M 67 (NGC 2682)

Authors:

Nardiello et al

Abstract:

In the third paper of this series we continue the exploitation of Kepler/K2 data in dense stellar fields using our PSF-based method. This work is focused on a ∼720-arcmin2 region centred on the Solar-metallicity and Solar-age open cluster M 67. We extracted light curves for all detectable sources in the Kepler channels 13 and 14, adopting our technique based on the usage of a high-angular-resolution input catalogue and target-neighbour subtraction. We detrended light curves for systematic errors, and searched for variables and exoplanets using several tools. We found 451 variables, of which 299 are new detection. Three planetary candidates were detected by our pipeline in this field. Raw and detrended light curves, catalogues, and K2 stacked images used in this work will be released to the community.

Exoplanet candidates in Praesepe

A PSF-based approach to Kepler/K2 data. II. Exoplanet candidates in Praesepe (M 44)

Authors:

Libralto et al

Abstract:

In this work we keep pushing K2 data to a high photometric precision, close to that of the Kepler main mission, using a PSF-based, neighbour-subtraction technique, which also overcome the dilution effects in crowded environments. We analyse the open cluster M 44 (NGC 2632), observed during the K2 Campaign 5, and extract light curves of stars imaged on module 14, where most of the cluster lies. We present two candidate exoplanets hosted by cluster members and five by field stars. As a by-product of our investigation, we find 1680 eclipsing binaries and variable stars, 1071 of which are new discoveries. Among them, we report the presence of a heartbeat binary star. Together with this work, we release to the community a catalogue with the variable stars and the candidate exoplanets found, as well as all our raw and detrended light curves.

Hunting for hot Jupiters in Open Stellar Clusters

MULTIPLEXING PRECISION RVs: SEARCHING FOR CLOSE-IN GAS GIANTS IN OPEN CLUSTERS

Authors:

Bailey et al

Abstract:

We present a multiplexed high-resolution (R ~ 50,000 median) spectroscopic survey designed to detect exoplanet candidates in two southern star clusters (NGC 2516 and NGC 2422) using the Michigan/Magellan Fiber System (M2FS) on the Magellan/Clay telescope at Las Campanas Observatory. With 128 available fibers in our observing mode, we are able to target every star in the core half-degree of each cluster that could plausibly be a solar-analog member. Our template-based spectral fits provide precise measurements of fundamental stellar properties—T eff (±30 K), [Fe/H] and [α/Fe] (±0.02 dex), and ${v}_{r}\mathrm{sin}(i)$ (±0.3 km s−1)—and radial velocities (RVs) by using telluric absorption features from 7160 to 7290 Å as a wavelength reference for 251 mid-F to mid-K stars (126 in NGC 2516 and 125 in NGC 2422) that comprise our survey. In each cluster, we have obtained ~10–12 epochs of our targets. Using repeat observations of an RV standard star, we show our approach can attain a single-epoch velocity precision of 25–60 m s−1 over a broad range of signal-to-noise ratios throughout our observational baseline of 1.1 years. Our technique is suitable for nonrapidly rotating stars cooler than mid-F. In this paper, we describe our observational sample and analysis methodology and present a detailed study of the attainable precision and measurement capabilities of our approach. Subsequent papers will provide results for stars observed in the target clusters, analyze our data set of RV time series for stellar jitter and stellar and substellar companions, and consider the implications of our findings on the clusters themselves.

Dense Open Clusters Have an Excess of Hot Jupiters

Search for giant planets in M67 III: excess of hot Jupiters in dense open clusters

Authors:

Brucalassi et al

Abstract:

Since 2008 we used high-precision radial velocity (RV) measurements obtained with different telescopes to detect signatures of massive planets around main-sequence and evolved stars of the open cluster (OC) M67. We aimed to perform a long-term study on giant planet formation in open clusters and determine how this formation depends on stellar mass and chemical composition. A new hot Jupiter (HJ) around the main-sequence star YBP401 is reported in this work. An update of the RV measurements for the two HJ host-stars YBP1194 and YBP1514 is also discussed. Our sample of 66 main-sequence and turnoff stars includes 3 HJs, which indicates a high rate of HJs in this cluster (~5.6% for single stars and ~4.5% for the full sample ). This rate is much higher than what has been discovered in the field, either with RV surveys or by transits. High metallicity is not a cause for the excess of HJs in M67, nor can the excess be attributed to high stellar masses. When combining this rate with the non-zero eccentricity of the orbits, our results are qualitatively consistent with a HJ formation scenario dominated by strong encounters with other stars or binary companions and subsequent planet-planet scattering, as predicted by N-body simulations.

Pr0211: the First Multi Exoplanetary System in an Open Stellar Cluster

The GAPS programme with HARPS-N at TNG XI. Pr~0211 in M~44: the first multi-planet system in an open cluster

Authors:

Malavolta et al

Abstract:

Open cluster (OC) stars share the same age and metallicity, and, in general, their age and mass can be estimated with higher precision than for field stars. For this reason, OCs are considered an important laboratory to study the relation between the physical properties of the planets and those of their host stars, and the evolution of planetary systems. We started an observational campaign within the GAPS collaboration to search for and characterize planets in OCs We monitored the Praesepe member Pr0211 to improve the eccentricity of the Hot-Jupiter (HJ) already known to orbit this star and search for additional planets. An eccentric orbit for the HJ would support a planet-planet scattering process after its formation. From 2012 to 2015, we collected 70 radial velocity (RV) measurements with HARPS-N and 36 with TRES of Pr0211. Simultaneous photometric observations were carried out with the robotic STELLA telescope in order to characterize the stellar activity. We discovered a long-term trend in the RV residuals that we show to be due to the presence of a second, massive, outer planet. Orbital parameters for the two planets are derived by simultaneously fitting RVs and photometric light curves, with the activity signal modelled as a series of sinusoids at the rotational period of the star and its harmonics. We confirm that Pr0211b has a nearly circular orbit (e=0.02±0.01), with an improvement of a factor two with respect to the previous determination of its eccentricity, and estimate that Pr0211c has a mass Mpsini=7.9±0.2MJ, a period P greater than 3500 days and a very eccentric orbit (e greater than 0.60). Such peculiar systems may be typical of open clusters if the planet-planet scattering phase leading to the formation of HJs is caused by stellar encounters rather than unstable primordial orbits. Pr0211 is the first multi-planet system discovered around an OC star.