Abstract
The Sun-like star Kepler-160 (KOI-456) has been known to host two transiting planets, Kepler-160 b and c, of which planet c shows substantial transit-timing variations (TTVs). We studied the transit photometry and the TTVs of this system in our search for a suspected third planet. We used the archival Kepler photometry of Kepler-160 to search for additional transiting planets using a combination of our Wōtan detrending algorithm and our transit least-squares detection algorithm. We also used the Mercury N-body gravity code to study the orbital dynamics of the system in trying to explain the observed TTVs of planet c. First, we recovered the known transit series of planets Kepler-160 b and c. Then we found a new transiting candidate with a radius of 1.91−0.14+0.17 Earth radii (R⊕), an orbital period of 378.417−0.025+0.028 d, and Earth-like insolation. The vespa software predicts that this signal has an astrophysical false-positive probability of FPP3 = 1.8 × 10−3 when the multiplicity of the system is taken into account. Kepler vetting diagnostics yield a multiple event statistic of MES = 10.7, which corresponds to an ~85% reliability against false alarms due to instrumental artifacts such as rolling bands. We are also able to explain the observed TTVs of planet c with the presence of a previously unknown planet. The period and mass of this new planet, however, do not match the period and mass of the new transit candidate. Our Markov chain Monte Carlo simulations of the TTVs of Kepler-160 c can be conclusively explained by a new nontransiting planet with a mass between about 1 and 100 Earth masses and an orbital period between about 7 and 50 d. We conclude that Kepler-160 has at least three planets, one of which is the nontransiting planet Kepler-160 d. The expected stellar radial velocity amplitude caused by this new planet ranges between about 1 and 20 m s−1. We also find the super-Earth-sized transiting planet candidate KOI-456.04 in the habitable zone of this system, which could be the fourth planet.
Highlights
The star Kepler-160 (KIC 7269974, KOI-456), at a distance of 32101481)+−,55w64 laisghatlmyeoasrtsc(oGnatiinauCooulsllayboorbasteiorvne2d0d16u,ri2n0g18th;eAKndepraleerept aril-. mary mission from 2009 to 2013
We examined the transit-timing variations (TTVs) of Kepler-160 c with orbital simulations of the Kepler-160 planetary system in combination with a Markov chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) fitting procedure to the Kepler transit photometry to search for additional planets
We used the publicly available pre-search data conditioning simple aperture photometry (PDCSAP) flux of the star Kepler-160 of the Kepler Data Release 25 (DR25) for Kepler Quarters 1–17 (Thompson et al 2016a; Twicken et al 2016) that is accessible through the Mikulski Archive for Space Telescopes (MAST)2
Summary
The star Kepler-160 (KIC 7269974, KOI-456), at a distance of 32101481)+−,55w64 laisghatlmyeoasrtsc(oGnatiinauCooulsllayboorbasteiorvne2d0d16u,ri2n0g18th;eAKndepraleerept aril-. mary mission from 2009 to 2013. It is a Sun-like star with a firaoatfeuddr1ieu.a0sso1of+−af00T..hR00eo55ffsst=t=imo15fe.41st7w11t8oh+−+−e1300t17r..005sa14onK55lsa,isrtoainlnvagdar-lpuaraleard1eni.sieuTt(lRhctieann)g,sdtaiSadnruanethe-falsfisekicenbtievlvueeenmrtyeiindmcoelpsnoeitstriye-orbits (Borucki et al 2011) that were later statistically validated (Rowe et al 2014) as planets Kepler-160 b and c. We examined the TTVs of Kepler-160 c with orbital simulations of the Kepler-160 planetary system in combination with a Markov chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) fitting procedure to the Kepler transit photometry to search for additional planets. We report the detection of a new periodic transit feature in the light curve that might originate from a 1.9 R⊕-sized planet receiving virtually Earth-like insolation from its Sun-like host star. We show that the TTVs of Kepler-160 c are neither
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
