Document Type
Article
Publication Date
10-10-2014
Abstract
We report the discovery of a low-mass planet orbiting Gl 15 A based on radial velocities from the Eta-Earth Survey using HIRES at Keck Observatory. Gl 15 Ab is a planet with minimum mass Msin i = 5.35 ± 0.75 M⊕, orbital period P = 11.4433 ± 0.0016 days, and an orbit that is consistent with circular. We characterize the host star using a variety of techniques. Photometric observations at Fairborn Observatory show no evidence for rotational modulation of spots at the orbital period to a limit of ∼0.1 mmag, thus supporting the existence of the planet. We detect a second RV signal with a period of 44 days that we attribute to rotational modulation of stellar surface features, as confirmed by optical photometry and the Ca II H & K activity indicator. Using infrared spectroscopy from Palomar-TripleSpec, we measure an M2 V spectral type and a sub-solar metallicity ([M/H] = -0.22, [Fe/H] = -0.32). We measure a stellar radius of 0.3863 ± 0.0021 R based on interferometry from CHARA.
Publication Source (Journal or Book title)
Astrophysical Journal
Recommended Citation
Howard, A., Marcy, G., Fischer, D., Isaacson, H., Muirhead, P., Henry, G., Boyajian, T., Von Braun, K., Becker, J., Wright, J., & Johnson, J. (2014). The NASA-UC-UH eta-earth program. IV. A low-mass planet orbiting an M dwarf 3.6 PC from earth. Astrophysical Journal, 794 (1) https://doi.org/10.1088/0004-637X/794/1/51