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Published 2007 | Published
Book Section - Chapter Open

Observations of Extrasolar Planets During the non-Cryogenic Spitzer Space Telescope Mission

Abstract

Precision infrared photometry from Spitzer has enabled the first direct studies of light from extrasolar planets, via observations at secondary eclipse in transiting systems. Current Spitzer results include the first longitudinal temperature map of an extrasolar planet, and the first spectra of their atmospheres. Spitzer has also measured a temperature and precise radius for the first transiting Neptune‐sized exoplanet, and is beginning to make precise transit timing measurements to infer the existence of unseen low mass planets. The lack of stellar limb darkening in the infrared facilitates precise radius and transit timing measurements of transiting planets. Warm Spitzer will be capable of a precise radius measurement for Earth‐sized planets transiting nearby M‐dwarfs, thereby constraining their bulk composition. It will continue to measure thermal emission at secondary eclipse for transiting hot Jupiters, and be able to distinguish between planets having broad band emission vs. absorption spectra. It will also be able to measure the orbital phase variation of thermal emission for close‐in planets, even non‐transiting planets, and these measurements will be of special interest for planets in eccentric orbits. Warm Spitzer will be a significant complement to Kepler, particularly as regards transit timing in the Kepler field. In addition to studying close‐in planets, Warm Spitzer will have significant application in sensitive imaging searches for young planets at relatively large angular separations from their parent stars.

Additional Information

© 2007 American Institute of Physics. We thank the Spitzer Science Center for the opportunity to consider and discuss the potential for exoplanet science during the warm mission. We are grateful to Josh Winn and Andy Gould for helpful conversations and remarks regarding the relative merits of of ground-based vs. space-borne photometry. We also acknowledge informative conversations with Greg Laughlin on the effects of heating in eccentric orbits.

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