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Astrophysics and Astronomy

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2009

Tennessee State University

Articles 1 - 20 of 20

Full-Text Articles in Physical Sciences and Mathematics

Retired A Stars And Their Companions. Iii. Comparing The Mass–Period Distributions Of Planets Around A-Type Stars And Sun-Like Stars, Brendan P. Bowler, John Asher Johnson, Geoffrey W. Marcy, Gregory W. Henry, Kathryn M. G. Peek, Debra A. Fischer, Kelsey I. Clubb, Michael C. Liu, Sabine Reffert, Christian Schwab, Thomas B. Lowe Dec 2009

Retired A Stars And Their Companions. Iii. Comparing The Mass–Period Distributions Of Planets Around A-Type Stars And Sun-Like Stars, Brendan P. Bowler, John Asher Johnson, Geoffrey W. Marcy, Gregory W. Henry, Kathryn M. G. Peek, Debra A. Fischer, Kelsey I. Clubb, Michael C. Liu, Sabine Reffert, Christian Schwab, Thomas B. Lowe

Information Systems and Engineering Management Research Publications

We present an analysis of ∼5 years of Lick Observatory radial velocity measurements targeting a uniform sample of 31 intermediate-mass (IM) subgiants (1.5 ≲ M*/M☉≲ 2.0) with the goal of measuring the occurrence rate of Jovian planets around (evolved) A-type stars and comparing the distributions of their orbital and physical characteristics to those of planets around Sun-like stars. We provide updated orbital solutions incorporating new radial velocity measurements for five known planet-hosting stars in our sample; uncertainties in the fitted parameters are assessed using a Markov-Chain Monte Carlo method. The frequency of Jovian planets interior to 3 AU is 26+9−8%, …

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A Super-Earth And Two Neptunes Orbiting The Nearby Sun-Like Star 61 Virginis, Steve Vogt, Robert A. Wittenmyer, R. Paul Butler, Simon O'Toole, Gregory W. Henry, Eugenio J. Rivera, Stefano Meschiari, Gregory Laughlin, Chris G. Tinney, Hugh R. A. Jones, Jeremy Bailey, Brad D. Carter, Konstantin Batygin Dec 2009

A Super-Earth And Two Neptunes Orbiting The Nearby Sun-Like Star 61 Virginis, Steve Vogt, Robert A. Wittenmyer, R. Paul Butler, Simon O'Toole, Gregory W. Henry, Eugenio J. Rivera, Stefano Meschiari, Gregory Laughlin, Chris G. Tinney, Hugh R. A. Jones, Jeremy Bailey, Brad D. Carter, Konstantin Batygin

Information Systems and Engineering Management Research Publications

We present precision radial velocity data that reveal a multiple exoplanet system orbiting the bright nearby G5V star 61 Virginis. Our 4.6 years of combined Keck/HIRES and Anglo-Australian Telescope precision radial velocities indicate the hitherto unknown presence of at least three planets orbiting this well-studied star. These planets are all on low-eccentricity orbits with periods of 4.2, 38.0, and 124.0 days, and projected masses (Msin i) of 5.1, 18.2, and 24.0 M⊕, respectively. Test integrations of systems consistent with the radial velocity data suggest that the configuration is dynamically stable. Depending on the effectiveness of tidal dissipation within the inner …

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A Super-Earth Orbiting The Nearby Sun-Like Star Hd 1461, Eugenio J. Rivera, R. Paul Butler, Steve Vogt, Gregory Laughlin, Gregory W. Henry, Stefano Meschiari Dec 2009

A Super-Earth Orbiting The Nearby Sun-Like Star Hd 1461, Eugenio J. Rivera, R. Paul Butler, Steve Vogt, Gregory Laughlin, Gregory W. Henry, Stefano Meschiari

Information Systems and Engineering Management Research Publications

We present precision radial velocity (RV) data that reveal a Super-Earth mass planet and two probable additional planets orbiting the bright nearby G0V star HD 1461. Our 12.8 years of Keck High Resolution Echelle Spectrometer precision RVs indicate the presence of a 7.4 M⊕ planet on a 5.77 day orbit. The data also suggest, but cannot yet confirm, the presence of outer planets on low-eccentricity orbits with periods of 446.1 and 5017 days, and projected masses (Msin i) of 27.9 and 87.1 M⊕, respectively. Test integrations of systems consistent with the RV data suggest that the configuration is dynamically stable. …

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The Spectroscopic Orbit Of Sao 167450, Visual Companion Of Aa Ceti, Francis C. Fekel, Daryl W. Willmarth Nov 2009

The Spectroscopic Orbit Of Sao 167450, Visual Companion Of Aa Ceti, Francis C. Fekel, Daryl W. Willmarth

Information Systems and Engineering Management Research Publications

We have determined a spectroscopic orbit for SAO 167450, which is the visual secondary of the W UMa-type eclipsing binary AA Cet, and so the system is quadruple. Radial velocities from the coudé feed and 4 m telescopes at Kitt Peak National Observatory produce an orbit with a period of 25.68 days and an eccentricity of 0.50. We classify both the primary and secondary as G0 subgiant/dwarf stars and find that they are somewhat metal rich relative to the Sun. The high lithium abundances of both components argue that the stars are less than 1 Gyr old. If the components …

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Mass Transfer Variations In Ux Monocerotis: Eight Years Of Automated Photometric Monitoring, Edward C. Olson, Gregory W. Henry, Paul B. Etzel Oct 2009

Mass Transfer Variations In Ux Monocerotis: Eight Years Of Automated Photometric Monitoring, Edward C. Olson, Gregory W. Henry, Paul B. Etzel

Information Systems and Engineering Management Research Publications

We analyze eight years (1999–2007) of automated photometric observations of the active Algol binary UX Monocerotis to search for mass transfer bursts similar to those seen in U Cephei. The largest photometric anomaly is the mean gainer luminosity difference between the stream-impact hemisphere and the opposite hemisphere. We find an updated Wilson–Devinney solution for earlier six-color observations. The UX Mon donor star fills its Roche lobe and the gainer nearly fills its rotational lobe. Instead of isolated bursts of the U Cep type, we found nearly continuous brightness fluctuations likely produced by variable mass transfer. We discuss implications for mass …

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Five Planets And An Independent Confirmation Of Hd 196885ab From Lick Observatory, Debra A. Fischer, Peter Driscoll, Howard Isaacson, Matthew J. Giguere, Geoffrey W. Marcy, Jeff A. Valenti, Jason T. Wright, Gregory W. Henry, John Asher Johnson, Andrew W. Howard, Kathryn M. G. Peek, Chris Mccarthy Sep 2009

Five Planets And An Independent Confirmation Of Hd 196885ab From Lick Observatory, Debra A. Fischer, Peter Driscoll, Howard Isaacson, Matthew J. Giguere, Geoffrey W. Marcy, Jeff A. Valenti, Jason T. Wright, Gregory W. Henry, John Asher Johnson, Andrew W. Howard, Kathryn M. G. Peek, Chris Mccarthy

Information Systems and Engineering Management Research Publications

We present time series Doppler data from Lick Observatory that reveal the presence of long-period planetary companions orbiting nearby stars. The typical eccentricity of these massive planets are greater than the mean eccentricity of known exoplanets. HD 30562b has Msin i = 1.29 MJup, with semimajor axis of 2.3 AU and eccentricity 0.76. The host star has a spectral type F8V and is metal rich. HD 86264b has Msin i = 7.0 MJup, arel = 2.86 AU, an eccentricity e = 0.7 and orbits a metal-rich, F7V star. HD 87883b has Msin i = 1.78 MJup, arel = 3.6 AU, …

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The 8 Μm Phase Variation Of The Hot Saturn Hd 149026b, Heather Knutson, David Charbonneau, Nicolas B. Cowan, Jonathan J. Fortney, Adam P. Showman, Eric Agol, Gregory W. Henry Sep 2009

The 8 Μm Phase Variation Of The Hot Saturn Hd 149026b, Heather Knutson, David Charbonneau, Nicolas B. Cowan, Jonathan J. Fortney, Adam P. Showman, Eric Agol, Gregory W. Henry

Information Systems and Engineering Management Research Publications

We monitor the star HD 149026 and its Saturn-mass planet at 8.0 μm over slightly more than half an orbit using the Infrared Array Camera on the Spitzer Space Telescope. We find an increase of 0.0227% ± 0.0066% (3.4σ significance) in the combined planet–star flux during this interval. The minimum flux from the planet is 45% ± 19% of the maximum planet flux, corresponding to a difference in brightness temperature of 480 ± 140 K between the two hemispheres. We derive a new secondary eclipse depth of 0.0411% ± 0.0076% in this band, corresponding to a dayside brightness temperature of …

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Two Exoplanets Discovered At Keck Observatory, Jeff A. Valenti, Debra A. Fischer, Geoffrey W. Marcy, John Asher Johnson, Gregory W. Henry, Jason T. Wright, Andrew W. Howard, Matthew J. Giguere, Howard Isaacson Aug 2009

Two Exoplanets Discovered At Keck Observatory, Jeff A. Valenti, Debra A. Fischer, Geoffrey W. Marcy, John Asher Johnson, Gregory W. Henry, Jason T. Wright, Andrew W. Howard, Matthew J. Giguere, Howard Isaacson

Information Systems and Engineering Management Research Publications

We present two exoplanets detected at Keck Observatory. HD 179079 is a G5 subgiant that hosts a hot Neptune planet with M sin i = 27.5 M⊕ in a 14.48 days, low-eccentricity orbit. The stellar reflex velocity induced by this planet has a semiamplitude of K = 6.6 m s−1. HD 73534 is a G5 subgiant with a Jupiter-like planet of M sin i = 1.1 MJup and K = 16 m s−1 in a nearly circular 4.85 yr orbit. Both stars are chromospherically inactive and metal-rich. We discuss a known, classical bias in measuring eccentricities for orbits with velocity …

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Transit Spectrophotometry Of The Exoplanet Hd 189733b I. Searching For Water But Finding Haze With Hst Nicmos, David K. Sing, Jean-Michel Désert, Alain Lecavelier Des Etangs, Gilda E. Ballester, Alfred Vidal-Madjar, Vivien Parmentier, Guillaume Hébrard, Gregory W. Henry Aug 2009

Transit Spectrophotometry Of The Exoplanet Hd 189733b I. Searching For Water But Finding Haze With Hst Nicmos, David K. Sing, Jean-Michel Désert, Alain Lecavelier Des Etangs, Gilda E. Ballester, Alfred Vidal-Madjar, Vivien Parmentier, Guillaume Hébrard, Gregory W. Henry

Information Systems and Engineering Management Research Publications

We present Hubble Space Telescope near-infrared transit photometry of the nearby hot-Jupiter HD 189733b. The observations were taken with the NICMOS instrument during five transits, with three transits executed with a narrowband filter at 1.87 m and two performed with a narrowband filter at 1.66 m. Our observing strategy using narrowband filters is insensitive to the usual HST intra-orbit and orbit-to-orbit measurement of systematic errors, allowing us to accurately and robustly measure the near-IR wavelength dependance of the planetary radius. Our measurements fail to reproduce the previously claimed detection of an absorption signature of atmospheric H2O below …

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A Third Giant Planet Orbiting Hip 14810, Jason T. Wright, Debra A. Fischer, Eric B. Ford, Dimitri Veras, Ji Wang, Gregory W. Henry, Geoffrey W. Marcy, Andrew W. Howard, John Asher Johnson Jun 2009

A Third Giant Planet Orbiting Hip 14810, Jason T. Wright, Debra A. Fischer, Eric B. Ford, Dimitri Veras, Ji Wang, Gregory W. Henry, Geoffrey W. Marcy, Andrew W. Howard, John Asher Johnson

Information Systems and Engineering Management Research Publications

We present new precision radial velocities and a three-planet Keplerian orbit fit for the V = 8.5, G5 V star HIP 14810. We began observing this star at Keck Observatory as part of the N2K Planet Search Project. Wright et al. announced the inner two planets to this system, and subsequent observations have revealed the outer planet and the proper orbital solution for the middle planet. The planets have minimum masses of 3.9, 1.3, and 0.6 MJup and orbital periods of 6.67, 147.7, and 952 day, respectively. We have numerically integrated the family of orbital solutions consistent with the data …

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The Activity And Variability Of The Sun And Sun-Like Stars. Ii. Contemporaneous Photometry And Spectroscopy Of Bright Solar Analogs, Jeffrey C. Hall, Gregory W. Henry, G. Wesley Lockwood, Brian A. Skiff, Steven H. Saar Jun 2009

The Activity And Variability Of The Sun And Sun-Like Stars. Ii. Contemporaneous Photometry And Spectroscopy Of Bright Solar Analogs, Jeffrey C. Hall, Gregory W. Henry, G. Wesley Lockwood, Brian A. Skiff, Steven H. Saar

Information Systems and Engineering Management Research Publications

We present 14 years of contemporaneous photometric and spectroscopic observations of 28 solar analog stars, taken with the Tennessee State University Automatic Photometric Telescopes at Fairborn Observatory and the Solar-Stellar Spectrograph at Lowell Observatory. These are the best observed and most nearly Sun-like of the targets in our magnitude-limited (V ⩽  7.5) sample. The correlations between luminosity and activity reveal the expected inverse activity–brightness correlations for active stars. Strong direct correlations between activity and brightness are not prevalent for the less active solar age stars, but are precision limited. The Sun does not appear to have unusually low photometric variability …

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Old, Rich, And Eccentric: Two Jovian Planets Orbiting Evolved Metal-Rich Stars, Kathryn M. G. Peek, John Asher Johnson, Debra A. Fischer, Geoffrey W. Marcy, Gregory W. Henry, Andrew W. Howard, Jason T. Wright, Thomas B. Lowe, Sabine Reffert, Christian Schwab, Peter K. G. Williams, Howard Isaacson, Matthew J. Giguere May 2009

Old, Rich, And Eccentric: Two Jovian Planets Orbiting Evolved Metal-Rich Stars, Kathryn M. G. Peek, John Asher Johnson, Debra A. Fischer, Geoffrey W. Marcy, Gregory W. Henry, Andrew W. Howard, Jason T. Wright, Thomas B. Lowe, Sabine Reffert, Christian Schwab, Peter K. G. Williams, Howard Isaacson, Matthew J. Giguere

Information Systems and Engineering Management Research Publications

We present radial velocity measurements of two stars observed as part of the Lick Subgiants Planet Search and the Keck N2K survey. Variations in the radial velocities of both stars reveal the presence of Jupiter-mass exoplanets in highly eccentric orbits. HD 16175 is a G0 subgiant from the Lick Subgiants Planet Search, orbited by a planet having a minimum mass of 4.4 MJup, in an eccentric (e = 0.59), 2.71 yr orbit. HD 96167 is a G5 subgiant from the N2K ("Next 2000") program at Keck Observatory, orbited by a planet having a minimum mass of 0.68 MJup, in an …

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A Search For Multi-Planet Systems Using The Hobby–Eberly Telescope, Robert A. Wittenmyer, Michael Endl, William D. Cochran, Harold F. Levison, Gregory W. Henry Apr 2009

A Search For Multi-Planet Systems Using The Hobby–Eberly Telescope, Robert A. Wittenmyer, Michael Endl, William D. Cochran, Harold F. Levison, Gregory W. Henry

Information Systems and Engineering Management Research Publications

Extrasolar multiple-planet systems provide valuable opportunities for testing theories of planet formation and evolution. The architectures of the known multiple-planet systems demonstrate a fascinating level of diversity, which motivates the search for additional examples of such systems in order to better constrain their formation and dynamical histories. Here we describe a comprehensive investigation of 22 planetary systems in an effort to answer three questions: (1) are there additional planets? (2) where could additional planets reside in stable orbits? and (3) what limits can these observations place on such objects? We find no evidence for additional bodies in any of these …

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The Nasa-Uc Eta-Earth Program. I. A Super-Earth Orbiting Hd 7924, Andrew W. Howard, John Asher Johnson, Geoffrey W. Marcy, Debra A. Fischer, Jason T. Wright, Gregory W. Henry, Matthew J. Giguere, Howard Isaacson, Jeff A. Valenti, Jay Anderson, Nikolai Piskunov Apr 2009

The Nasa-Uc Eta-Earth Program. I. A Super-Earth Orbiting Hd 7924, Andrew W. Howard, John Asher Johnson, Geoffrey W. Marcy, Debra A. Fischer, Jason T. Wright, Gregory W. Henry, Matthew J. Giguere, Howard Isaacson, Jeff A. Valenti, Jay Anderson, Nikolai Piskunov

Information Systems and Engineering Management Research Publications

We report the discovery of the first low-mass planet to emerge from the NASA-UC Eta-Earth Program, a super-Earth orbiting the K0 dwarf HD 7924. Keplerian modeling of precise Doppler radial velocities reveals a planet with minimum mass MPsin i = 9.26 M⊕ in a P = 5.398 d orbit. Based on Keck-HIRES measurements from 2001 to 2008, the planet is robustly detected with an estimated false alarm probability of less than 0.001. Photometric observations using the Automated Photometric Telescopes at Fairborn Observatory show that HD 7924 is photometrically constant over the radial velocity period to 0.19 mmag, supporting the existence …

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Hr 8257: A Three-Dimensional Orbit And Basic Properties, Francis C. Fekel, Andrew F. Boden, Jocelyn Tomkin, Guillermo Torres Apr 2009

Hr 8257: A Three-Dimensional Orbit And Basic Properties, Francis C. Fekel, Andrew F. Boden, Jocelyn Tomkin, Guillermo Torres

Information Systems and Engineering Management Research Publications

We have used interferometric and spectroscopic observations of HR 8257 to determine a three-dimensional orbit of the system. The orbit has a period of 12.21345 days and an eccentricity of 0.2895. The masses of the F0 and F2 dwarf components are 1.56 and 1.38 M☉, respectively, with fractional errors of 1.4%. Our orbital parallax of 13.632 ± 0.095 mas, corresponding to a distance of 73.4 ± 0.6 pc, differs from the Hipparcos result by just 2% and has a significantly smaller uncertainty. From our spectroscopic observations and spectral energy distribution modeling we determine the component effective temperatures and luminosities to …

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The Nature Of The Light Variability Of The Silicon Star Hr 7224, Jiří Krtička, Zdeněk Mikulášek, Gregory W. Henry, Juraj Zverko, Jozef Žižňovský, Jan Skalický, Pavel Zvěřina Mar 2009

The Nature Of The Light Variability Of The Silicon Star Hr 7224, Jiří Krtička, Zdeněk Mikulášek, Gregory W. Henry, Juraj Zverko, Jozef Žižňovský, Jan Skalický, Pavel Zvěřina

Information Systems and Engineering Management Research Publications

Context. Although photometric variations of chemically peculiar (CP) stars are frequently used to determine their rotational periods, the detailed mechanism of their light variability remains poorly understood.
Aims. We simulate the light variability of the star HR 7224 using the observed surface distribution of silicon and iron.
Methods. We used the TLUSTY model atmospheres calculated for the appropriate silicon and iron abundances to obtain the emergent flux and to predict the rotationally modulated light curve of the star. We also obtained additional photometric measurements and employed our own regression procedure to derive a more precise estimate of the light elements. …

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New Precision Orbits Of Bright Double-Lined Spectroscopic Binaries. Iii. Hd 82191, Ω Draconis, And 108 Herculis, Francis C. Fekel, Jocelyn Tomkin, Michael H. Williamson Mar 2009

New Precision Orbits Of Bright Double-Lined Spectroscopic Binaries. Iii. Hd 82191, Ω Draconis, And 108 Herculis, Francis C. Fekel, Jocelyn Tomkin, Michael H. Williamson

Information Systems and Engineering Management Research Publications

We have determined improved spectroscopic orbits for three double-lined binaries, HD 82191 (Am), ω Dra (F5 V), and 108 Her (Am), using radial velocities from the 2.1 m telescope at McDonald Observatory, the coudé feed telescope at Kitt Peak National Observatory, and 2 m telescope at Fairborn Observatory. The orbital periods range from 5.28 to 9.01 days, and all three systems have circular orbits. The new orbital dimensions (a1 sin i and a2 sin i) and minimum masses (m1 sin3 i and m2 sin3 i) have accuracies of 0.2% or better. Our improved results confirm the large minimum masses of …

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The Transit Light Curve Project. X. A Christmas Transit Of Hd 17156b, Joshua N. Winn, Matthew J. Holman, Gregory W. Henry, Guillermo Torres, Debra A. Fischer, John Asher Johnson, Geoffrey W. Marcy, Avi Shporer, Tsevi Mazeh Mar 2009

The Transit Light Curve Project. X. A Christmas Transit Of Hd 17156b, Joshua N. Winn, Matthew J. Holman, Gregory W. Henry, Guillermo Torres, Debra A. Fischer, John Asher Johnson, Geoffrey W. Marcy, Avi Shporer, Tsevi Mazeh

Information Systems and Engineering Management Research Publications

Photometry is presented of the 2007 December 25 transit of HD 17156b, which has the longest orbital period and highest orbital eccentricity of all the known transiting exoplanets. New measurements of the stellar radial velocity are also presented. All the data are combined and integrated with stellar-evolutionary modeling to derive refined system parameters. The planet's mass and radius are found to be 3.212+0.069−0.082 MJup and 1.023+0.070−0.055 RJup. The corresponding stellar properties are 1.263+0.035−0.047 M☉ and 1.446+0.099−0.067 R☉. The planet is smaller by 1σ than a theoretical solar-composition gas giant with the same mass and equilibrium temperature, a possible indication of …

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Infrared Spectroscopy Of Symbiotic Stars. Vii. Binary Orbit And Long Secondary Period Variability Of Ch Cygni, Kenneth H. Hinkle, Francis C. Fekel, Richard R. Joyce Feb 2009

Infrared Spectroscopy Of Symbiotic Stars. Vii. Binary Orbit And Long Secondary Period Variability Of Ch Cygni, Kenneth H. Hinkle, Francis C. Fekel, Richard R. Joyce

Information Systems and Engineering Management Research Publications

High-dispersion spectroscopic observations are used to refine orbital elements for the symbiotic binary CH Cyg. The current radial velocities, added to a previously published 13 year time series of infrared velocities for the M giant in the CH Cyg symbiotic system, more than double the length of the time series to 29 years. The two previously identified velocity periods are confirmed. The long period, revised to 15.6 ± 0.1 yr, is shown to result from a binary orbit with a 0.7 M☉ white dwarf and 2 M☉ M giant. Mass transfer to the white dwarf is responsible for the symbiotic …

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Discovery Of A Low-Mass Companion To The Solar-Type Star Tyc 2534-698-1, Stephen R. Kane, Suvrath Mahadevan, William D. Cochran, Rachel A. Street, Sivarani Thirupathi, Gregory W. Henry, Michael H. Williamson Feb 2009

Discovery Of A Low-Mass Companion To The Solar-Type Star Tyc 2534-698-1, Stephen R. Kane, Suvrath Mahadevan, William D. Cochran, Rachel A. Street, Sivarani Thirupathi, Gregory W. Henry, Michael H. Williamson

Information Systems and Engineering Management Research Publications

Brown dwarfs and low-mass stellar companions are interesting objects to study since they occupy the mass region between deuterium and hydrogen burning. We report here the serendipitous discovery of a low-mass companion in an eccentric orbit around a solar-type main-sequence star. The stellar primary, TYC 2534-698-1, is a G2V star that was monitored both spectroscopically and photometrically over the course of several months. Radial velocity observations indicate a minimum mass of 0.037 M☉ and an orbital period of ∼103 days for the companion. Photometry outside of the transit window shows the star to be stable to within ∼6 millimags. The …

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