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Photometrically Derived Masses and Radii of the Planet and Star in the TrES-2 System

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Abstract

  • We measure the mass and radius of the star and planet in the TrES-2 system using 2.7 years of observations by the Kepler spacecraft. The light curve shows evidence for ellipsoidal variations and Doppler beaming on a period consistent with the orbital period of the planet with amplitudes of 2.79 0.44 -0.62 and 3.44 0.32 -0.37 parts per million (ppm), respectively, and a difference between the dayside and the nightside planetary flux of 3.41 0.55 -0.82 ppm. We present an asteroseismic analysis of solar-like oscillations on TrES-2A which we use to calculate the stellar mass of 0.94 ± 0.05 M &sun; and radius of 0.95 ± 0.02 R &sun;. Using these stellar parameters, a transit model fit and the phase-curve variations, we determine the planetary radius of 1.162 0.020 -0.024 R Jup and derive a mass for TrES-2b from the photometry of 1.44 ± 0.21 M Jup. The ratio of the ellipsoidal variation to the Doppler beaming amplitudes agrees to better than 2s with theoretical predications, while our measured planet mass and radius agree within 2s of previously published values based on spectroscopic radial velocity measurements. We measure a geometric albedo of 0.0136 0.0022 -0.0033 and an occultation (secondary eclipse) depth of 6.5 1.7 -1.8 ppm which we combined with the day/night planetary flux ratio to model the atmosphere of TrES-2b. We find that an atmosphere model that contains a temperature inversion is strongly preferred. We hypothesize that the Kepler bandpass probes a significantly greater atmospheric depth on the night side relative to the day side.

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Publication Date

  • 2012

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Digital Object Identifier (doi)

Additional Document Info

Start Page

  • 53

Volume

  • 761