Photometric Follow-up Observations Research Articles

The GAPS Programme at TNG. LIX. Characterisation study of the ~300 Myr-old multi-planetary system orbiting the star BD+40 2790 (TOI-2076)

The long-term Global Architecture of Planetary Systems (GAPS) programme has been characterising a sample of young systems with transiting planets via spectroscopic and photometric follow-up observations. One of the main goals of GAPS is measuring planets' dynamical masses and bulk densities to help build a picture of how planets evolve in the early stages of their formation via a comparison between the fundamental physical properties of young and mature exoplanets. We collected more than 300 high-resolution spectra of the sim 300 Myr old star BD+40 2790 (TOI-2076) over about three years. This star hosts three transiting planets discovered by TESS, with orbital periods of sim 10, 21, and 35 days. From our determined fundamental planetary physical properties, we investigate the temporal evolution of the planetary atmospheres by calculating the expected mass loss rate due to photo-evaporation up to a system age of 5 Gyr. BD+40 2790 shows an activity-induced scatter larger than 30 ms in the radial velocities. We employed different methods to measure the stellar radial velocities, along with several models to filter out the dominant stellar activity signal to bring to light the planet-induced signals, which are expected to have semi-amplitudes that are lower by one order of magnitude. We evaluated the mass loss rate of the planetary atmospheres using photo-ionisation hydrodynamic modeling, accounting for the temporal evolution of the stellar high-energy flux through the adoption of different models for X-rays and EUV irradiation. The dynamical analysis confirms that the three sub-Neptune-sized companions (with our radius measurements of $R_b$=2.54pm 0.04, $R_c$=3.35pm 0.05, and $R_d$=3.29pm 0.06 have masses that situate them in the planetary regime. We derived 3sigma upper limits below or close to the mass of Neptune for all the planets in our sample: 11--12, 12--13.5, and 14--19 for planets $b$, $c$, and $d$, respectively. In the case of planet $d$, we found promising clues that the mass could be between sim 7 and 8 with a significance level between 2.3--2.5sigma (at best). This result must be further investigated using other analysis methods and techniques or using high-precision near-infrared (nIR) spectrographs to collect new radial velocities, which could be less affected by stellar activity. Atmospheric photo-evaporation simulations predict that BD+40 2790\,b is currently losing its H-He gaseous envelope and that it will be completely lost at an age within 0.5--3\,Gyr if its current mass is lower than 12\,M$_ Furthermore, BD+40 2790\,c could have a lower bulk density than $b$ and might be able to retain its atmosphere up to an age of 5 Gyr. For the outermost object, planet $d$, we predicted an almost negligible evolution of its mass and radius, induced by photo-evaporation.

Long-term follow-up observations of extreme coronal line emitting galaxies

ABSTRACT We present new spectroscopic and photometric follow-up observations of the known sample of extreme coronal line-emitting galaxies (ECLEs) identified in the Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS). With these new data, observations of the ECLE sample now span a period of two decades following their initial SDSS detections. We confirm the non-recurrence of the iron coronal line signatures in five of the seven objects, further supporting their identification as the transient light echoes of tidal disruption events (TDEs). Photometric observations of these objects in optical bands show little overall evolution. In contrast, mid-infrared (MIR) observations show ongoing long-term declines consistent with power-law decay. The remaining two objects had been classified as active galactic nuclei (AGNs) with unusually strong coronal lines rather than being TDE related, given the persistence of the coronal lines in earlier follow-up spectra. We confirm this classification, with our spectra continuing to show the presence of strong, unchanged coronal line features and AGN-like MIR colours and behaviour. We have constructed spectral templates of both subtypes of ECLE to aid in distinguishing the likely origin of newly discovered ECLEs. We highlight the need for higher cadence, and more rapid, follow-up observations of such objects to better constrain their properties and evolution. We also discuss the relationships between ECLEs, TDEs, and other identified transients having significant MIR variability.

Variable white dwarfs in TMTS: asteroseismological analysis of a ZZ Ceti star, TMTS J17184064+2524314

ABSTRACT The Tsinghua University-Ma Huateng Telescope for Survey (TMTS) has been constantly monitoring the northern sky since 2020 in search of rapidly variable stars. To find variable white dwarfs (WDs), the TMTS catalogue is cross-matched with the WD catalogue of Gaia EDR3, resulting in over 3000 light curves of WD candidates. The WD TMTS J17184064+2524314 (hereafter J1718) is the second ZZ Ceti star discovered among these common sources. Based on the light curves from TMTS, follow-up photometric observations, and Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite, 10 periods and three combination periods are detected. A rotation period of 25.12 ± 0.18 h is derived, according to the identified rotational splitting. Our spectroscopic observation indicates that this WD belongs to DA type with Teff = 11 670 ± 604 K, log g = 8.16 ± 0.36, M = 0.70 ± 0.23 M⊙, and age = 0.51 ± 0.34 Gyr. Based on core-parametrized asteroseismological model grids (≥14 million), we derive the best-fitting solution of Teff = 11 640 ± 20 K, log g = 8.267 ± 0.008, and M = 0.750 ± 0.005 M⊙ for J1718, consistent with the spectral fitting results. For this WD, the corresponding carbon and oxygen abundances in the core are 0.43 and 0.57, respectively. The distance derived from the intrinsic luminosity given by asteroseismology is 64 ± 15 pc, in accord with the distance of 70.1 ± 0.2 pc from Gaia DR3 within the uncertainties.

Precise Transit Photometry Using TESS: Updated Physical Properties for 28 Exoplanets around Bright Stars

The Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS) follow-up of a large number of known transiting exoplanets provides a unique opportunity to study their physical properties more precisely. Being a space-based telescope, the TESS observations are devoid of any noise component resulting from the interference of Earth’s atmosphere. TESS also provides a greater probability to observe subsequent transit events owing to its longer uninterrupted time-series observations compared to ground-based telescopes. For the exoplanets around bright host stars in particular, TESS time-series observations provide high signal-to-noise ratio (S/N) lightcurves, which can be used for higher-precision studies for these exoplanets. In this work, I have studied the TESS transit photometric follow-up observations of 28 exoplanets around bright stars with V mag ≤ 10. The already high-S/N lightcurves from TESS have been further processed with a critical noise-treatment algorithm, using the wavelet-denoising and the Gaussian-process regression techniques, to effectively reduce the noise components, both correlated and uncorrelated in time, which were then used to estimate the physical properties of these exoplanets. The study has resulted in very precise values for the physical properties of the target exoplanets, with the improvements in precision being significant for most of the cases compared to the previous studies. Also, since a comparatively large number of transit lightcurves from TESS observations were used to estimate these physical properties for each of the target exoplanets, which removes any bias due to the lack of sufficient data sets, these updated physical properties can be considered extremely accurate and reliable for future studies.

LAMOST J2043+3413—a Fast Disk Precession SW Sextans Candidate in Period Gap

We present follow-up photometric observations and time-series analysis of a nova-like, SW Sextans-type, cataclysmic variable (CV) candidate, LAMOST J204305.95+341340.6 (hereafter J2043+3413), with a Gaia G-band magnitude of 15.30 and a distance of 990 pc, which was identified from the LAMOST spectrum. The photometric data were collected with the Tsinghua-NAOC 0.8 m telescope (TNT), Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS), Zwicky Transient Facility (ZTF), and ASAS-SN. The TESS light curve reveals the presence of two prominent periods of 2.587(8) hr and 1.09(5) days, corresponding to the orbital and superorbital (precession) period, respectively. The TNT data obtained in 2020 shows a possible quasiperiodic oscillation of 1426 s. The precession period is about three times shorter than that of CVs with similar orbital periods, indicating an unusually fast precessing accretion disk. The ZTF data is found to show a sudden decline of ∼0.4 mag on MJD 58979. From the intermittent behavior of the eclipse, we deduce that J2043+3413 is an intermediate inclination system of CV, similar to V795 Her, which is also situated in the period gap.

The ELM Survey South. II. Two Dozen New Low-mass White Dwarf Binaries

We present the results from our ongoing spectroscopic survey targeting low-mass white dwarf binaries, focusing on the southern sky. We used a Gaia DR2- and eDR3-based selection and identified 28 new binaries, including 19 new extremely low-mass (ELM) white dwarfs, one short period, likely eclipsing, DABZ, and two potential LISA binaries. We present the orbital and atmospheric parameters for each new binary based on our spectroscopic follow up. Four of our new binaries show periodic photometric variability in TESS 2 minutes cadence data, including one new eclipsing double-lined spectroscopic binary. Three others show periodic photometric variability in ZTF, including one new eclipsing binary. We provide estimates for the inclinations and scaled component radii for these ZTF variables, based on light-curve modeling of our high-speed photometric follow-up observations. Our observations have increased the sample of ELM Survey binaries identified in the southern sky to 41, an increase of 64%. Future time domain surveys, such as BlackGEM and the Vera C. Rubin Observatory Legacy Survey of Space and Time, will efficiently identify photometric variables in the southern sky and significantly increase the population of southern sky low-mass white dwarf binaries, leading to a more complete all-sky population of these systems.

Properties and asteroseismological analysis of a new ZZ ceti discovered by TMTS

ABSTRACT Tsinghua University-Ma Huateng Telescope for Survey (TMTS) aims to discover rapidly evolving transients by monitoring the northern sky. The TMTS catalogue is cross-matched with the white dwarf (WD) catalogue of Gaia EDR3, and light curves of more than a thousand WD candidates are obtained so far. Among them, the WD TMTS J23450729+5813146 is one interesting common source. Based on the light curves from the TMTS and follow-up photometric observations, periods of 967.113, 973.734, 881.525, 843.458, 806.916, and 678.273 s are identified. In addition, the TESS observations suggest a 3.39-h period but this can be attributed to the rotation of a comoving M dwarf located within 3 arcsec. The spectroscopic observation indicates that this WD is DA type with Teff = 11 778 ± 617 K, log g = 8.38 ± 0.31, mass = 0.84 ± 0.20 M⊙, and age = 0.704 ± 0.377 Gyr. Asteroseismological analysis reveals a global best-fitting solution of Teff = 12 110 ± 10 K and mass = 0.760 ± 0.005 M⊙, consistent with the spectral fitting results, and oxygen and carbon abundances in the core centre are 0.73 and 0.27, respectively. The distance derived from the intrinsic luminosity given by asteroseismology is 93 parsec, which is in agreement with the distance of 98 parsec from Gaia DR3. Additionally, kinematic study shows that this WD is likely a thick-disc star. The mass of its zero-age main sequence is estimated to be 3.08 M⊙ and has a main sequence plus cooling age of roughly 900 Myr.

PHOTOMETRIC OBSERVATIONS OF MINOR PLANETS WITH THE TONANTZINTLA SCHMIDT CAMERA I. LIGHT CURVE ANALYSIS OF MAIN-BELT AND NEAR-EARTH ASTEROIDS

We report photometric observations of nine main-belt asteroids (MBAs), four near-Earth asteroids (NEAs), and one Mars-crossing asteroid (MCA) carried out with the historical Tonantzintla Schmidt Camera between 2015 and 2018, as part of a process of reactivation of this telescope for astrometric and photometric follow-up observations of MBAs and NEAs. This observational program is part of the commitment made by INAOE when requesting its inclusion in the International Asteroid Warning Network (IAWN). We present the light curves of these 14 asteroids and their corresponding Fourier analyses to determine the rotation period of the asteroids and the brightness amplitude of their light curves.

Another shipment of six short-period giant planets from TESS

ABSTRACT We present the discovery and characterization of six short-period, transiting giant planets from NASA’s Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS) -- TOI-1811 (TIC 376524552), TOI-2025 (TIC 394050135), TOI-2145 (TIC 88992642), TOI-2152 (TIC 395393265), TOI-2154 (TIC 428787891), and TOI-2497 (TIC 97568467). All six planets orbit bright host stars (8.9 <G < 11.8, 7.7 <K < 10.1). Using a combination of time-series photometric and spectroscopic follow-up observations from the TESS Follow-up Observing Program Working Group, we have determined that the planets are Jovian-sized (RP = 0.99--1.45 RJ), have masses ranging from 0.92 to 5.26 MJ, and orbit F, G, and K stars (4766 ≤ Teff ≤ 7360 K). We detect a significant orbital eccentricity for the three longest-period systems in our sample: TOI-2025 b (P = 8.872 d, 0.394$^{+0.035}_{-0.038}$), TOI-2145 b (P = 10.261 d, e = $0.208^{+0.034}_{-0.047}$), and TOI-2497 b (P = 10.656 d, e = $0.195^{+0.043}_{-0.040}$). TOI-2145 b and TOI-2497 b both orbit subgiant host stars (3.8 < log g <4.0), but these planets show no sign of inflation despite very high levels of irradiation. The lack of inflation may be explained by the high mass of the planets; $5.26^{+0.38}_{-0.37}$ MJ (TOI-2145 b) and 4.82 ± 0.41 MJ (TOI-2497 b). These six new discoveries contribute to the larger community effort to use TESS to create a magnitude-complete, self-consistent sample of giant planets with well-determined parameters for future detailed studies.

TOI-836: A super-Earth and mini-Neptune transiting a nearby K-dwarf

ABSTRACT We present the discovery of two exoplanets transiting TOI-836 (TIC 440887364) using data from TESS Sector 11 and Sector 38. TOI-836 is a bright (T = 8.5 mag), high proper motion (∼200 mas yr−1), low metallicity ([Fe/H]≈−0.28) K-dwarf with a mass of 0.68 ± 0.05 M⊙ and a radius of 0.67 ± 0.01 R⊙. We obtain photometric follow-up observations with a variety of facilities, and we use these data sets to determine that the inner planet, TOI-836 b, is a 1.70 ± 0.07 R⊕ super-Earth in a 3.82-d orbit, placing it directly within the so-called ‘radius valley’. The outer planet, TOI-836 c, is a 2.59 ± 0.09 R⊕ mini-Neptune in an 8.60-d orbit. Radial velocity measurements reveal that TOI-836 b has a mass of 4.5 ± 0.9 M⊕, while TOI-836 c has a mass of 9.6 ± 2.6 M⊕. Photometric observations show Transit Timing Variations (TTVs) on the order of 20 min for TOI-836 c, although there are no detectable TTVs for TOI-836 b. The TTVs of planet TOI-836 c may be caused by an undetected exterior planet.

Gaia–TESS synergy: improving the identification of transit candidates

Context. The TESS team periodically issues a new list of transiting exoplanet candidates based on the analysis of the accumulating light curves obtained by the satellite. The list includes the estimated epochs, periods, and durations of the potential transits. As the point spread function (PSF) of TESS is relatively wide, follow-up photometric observations at higher spatial resolution are required in order to exclude apparent transits that are actually blended background eclipsing binaries (BEBs). Aims. The Gaia space mission, with its growing database of epoch photometry and high angular resolution, enables the production of distinct light curves for all sources included in the TESS PSF, up to the limiting magnitude of Gaia. This paper reports the results of an ongoing Gaia-TESS collaboration that uses the Gaia photometry to facilitate the identification of BEB candidates and even to confirm on-target candidates in some cases. Methods. We inspected the Gaia photometry of the individual sources included in the TESS PSF, searching for periodic dimming events compatible with their ephemerides and uncertainties, as published by TESS. The performance of the search depends mainly on the number of Gaia measurements during transit and their precision. Results. Since February 2021, the collaboration has been able to confirm 126 on-target candidates and exclude 124 as BEBs. Since June 2021, when our search methodology matured, we have been able to identify on the order of 5% as on-target candidates and another 5% as BEBs. Conclusions. This synergistic approach is combining the complementary capabilities of two of the astronomical space missions of NASA and ESA. It serves to optimize the process of detecting new planets by making better use of the resources of the astronomical community.

Two long-period transiting exoplanets on eccentric orbits: NGTS-20 b (TOI-5152 b) and TOI-5153 b

Context. Long-period transiting planets provide the opportunity to better understand the formation and evolution of planetary systems. Their atmospheric properties remain largely unaltered by tidal or radiative effects of the host star, and their orbital arrangement reflects a different and less extreme migrational history compared to close-in objects. The sample of long-period exoplanets with well-determined masses and radii is still limited, but a growing number of long-period objects reveal themselves in the Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS) data. Aims. Our goal is to vet and confirm single-transit planet candidates detected in the TESS space-based photometric data through spectroscopic and photometric follow-up observations with ground-based instruments. Methods. We used high-resolution spectrographs to confirm the planetary nature of the transiting candidates and measure their masses. We also used the Next Generation Transit Survey (NGTS) to photometrically monitor the candidates in order to observe additional transits. Using a joint modeling of the light curves and radial velocities, we computed the orbital parameters of the system and were able to precisely measure the mass and radius of the transiting planets. Results. We report the discovery of two massive, warm Jupiter-size planets, one orbiting the F8-type star TOI-5153 and the other orbiting the G1-type star NGTS-20 (=TOI-5152). From our spectroscopic analysis, both stars are metal rich with a metallicity of 0.12 and 0.15, respectively. Only TOI-5153 presents a second transit in the TESS extended mission data, but NGTS observed NGTS-20 as part of its mono-transit follow-up program and detected two additional transits. Follow-up high-resolution spectroscopic observations were carried out with CORALIE, CHIRON, FEROS, and HARPS. TOI-5153 hosts a planet with a period of 20.33 days, a planetary mass of 3.26−0.17+0.18 Jupiter masses (MJ), a radius of 1.06−0.04+0.04 RJ, and an orbital eccentricity of 0.091−0.026+0.024. NGTS-20 b is a 2.98−0.15+0.16 MJ planet with a radius of 1.07−0.04+0.04 RJ on an eccentric 0.432−0.023+0.023 orbit with an orbital period of 54.19 days. Both planets are metal enriched and their heavy element content is in line with the previously reported mass-metallicity relation for gas giants. Conclusions. Both warm Jupiters orbit moderately bright host stars, making these objects valuable targets for follow-up studies of the planetary atmosphere and measurement of the spin-orbit angle of the system.

Gaia 20eae: A Newly Discovered Episodically Accreting Young Star

Abstract The Gaia Alert System issued an alert on 2020 August 28, on Gaia 20eae when its light curve showed a ∼4.25 magnitude outburst. We present multiwavelength photometric and spectroscopic follow-up observations of this source since 2020 August and identify it as the newest member of the FUor/EXor family of sources. We find that the present brightening of Gaia 20eae is not due to the dust-clearing event but due to an intrinsic change in the spectral energy distribution. The light curve of Gaia 20eae shows a transition stage during which most of its brightness (∼3.4 mag) has occurred on a short timescale of 34 days with a rise rate of 3 mag/month. Gaia 20eae has now started to decay at a rate of 0.3 mag/month. We have detected a strong P Cygni profile in Hα, which indicates the presence of winds originating from regions close to the accretion. We find signatures of very strong and turbulent outflow and accretion in Gaia 20eae during this outburst phase. We have also detected a redshifted absorption component in all of the Ca ii IR triplet lines consistent with a signature of hot infalling gas in the magnetospheric accretion funnel. This enables us to constrain the viewing angle with respect to the accretion funnel. Our investigation of Gaia 20eae points toward magnetospheric accretion being the phenomenon for the current outburst.

Two Massive Jupiters in Eccentric Orbits from the TESS Full-frame Images

Abstract We report the discovery of two short-period massive giant planets from NASA’s Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS). Both systems, TOI-558 (TIC 207110080) and TOI-559 (TIC 209459275), were identified from the 30 minute cadence full-frame images and confirmed using ground-based photometric and spectroscopic follow-up observations from TESS’s follow-up observing program working group. We find that TOI-558 b, which transits an F-dwarf (M * = 1.349 − 0.065 + 0.064 M ⊙, R * = 1.496 − 0.040 + 0.042 R ⊙, T eff = 6466 − 93 + 95 K, age 1.79 − 0.73 + 0.91 Gyr) with an orbital period of 14.574 days, has a mass of 3.61 ± 0.15 M J, a radius of 1.086 − 0.038 + 0.041 R J, and an eccentric (e = 0.300 − 0.020 + 0.022 ) orbit. TOI-559 b transits a G dwarf (M * = 1.026 ± 0.057 M ⊙, R * = 1.233 − 0.026 + 0.028 R ⊙, T eff = 5925 − 76 + 85 K, age 6.8 − 2.0 + 2.5 Gyr) in an eccentric (e = 0.151 ± 0.011) 6.984 days orbit with a mass of 6.01 − 0.23 + 0.24 M J and a radius of 1.091 − 0.025 + 0.028 R J. Our spectroscopic follow up also reveals a long-term radial velocity trend for TOI-559, indicating a long-period companion. The statistically significant orbital eccentricity measured for each system suggests that these planets migrated to their current location through dynamical interactions. Interestingly, both planets are also massive (>3 M J), adding to the population of massive giant planets identified by TESS. Prompted by these new detections of high-mass planets, we analyzed the known mass distribution of hot and warm Jupiters but find no significant evidence for multiple populations. TESS should provide a near magnitude-limited sample of transiting hot Jupiters, allowing for future detailed population studies.

Beyond the dips of V807 Tau, a spectropolarimetric study of a dipper’s magnetosphere

Context. The so-called dippers are pre-main-sequence objects that accrete material from their circumstellar disks through the stellar magnetosphere. Their unique type of variability allows us to probe the magnetic star-disk interaction processes in young stellar objects. Aims. We aim to characterize the magnetospheric accretion process in the young stellar object V807 Tau, one of the most stable dippers revealed by K2 in the Taurus star forming region. Methods. We performed photometric and spectropolarimetric follow-up observations of this system with CFHT/ESPaDOnS in order to investigate the variability of the system over several rotational periods. Results. We derive a 4.38 day period from the K2 dipper light curve. This period is also seen in the radial velocity variations, which we ascribe to spot modulation. The slightly redshifted narrow component of the He I 5876 Å line as well as the high velocity red wing of the Hβ and Hγ emission line profiles also vary in intensity with the same periodicity. The former traces the accretion shock at the stellar surface, and the latter is a signature of an accretion funnel flow crossing the line of sight. We derive a surface brightness map and the topology of the surface magnetic field from the modeling of Stokes I and V profiles, respectively, for photospheric lines and for the He I emission line. The latter reveals a bright spot at the stellar surface, located at a latitude of 60°, and a maximum field strength of ∼2 kG at this location. The topology of the magnetic field at the stellar surface is dominated by a dipolar component inclined by about 40° onto the spin axis. Variable blueshifted absorption components seen in the Balmer line profiles suggest episodic outflows. Despite of its clear and stable dipper behavior, we derive a relatively low inclination of 40° to 50° for this system, which calls question the origin of the dips. The low inclination we infer is also consistent with the absence of deep inverse P Cygni components in the line profiles. Conclusions. We conclude that magnetospheric accretion is ongoing in V807 Tau, taking place through non-axisymmetric accretion funnel flows controlled by a strong, tilted, and mainly dipolar magnetic topology. Whether an inner disk warp resulting from this process can account for the dipper character of this source remains to be seen, given the low inclination of the system.

TIC 257060897b: An inflated, low-density, hot-Jupiter transiting a rapidly evolving subgiant star

ABSTRACT We report the discovery of a new transiting exoplanet orbiting the star TIC 257060897 and detected using TESS full frame images. We acquired HARPS-N time-series spectroscopic data, and ground-based photometric follow-up observations from which we confirm the planetary nature of the transiting body. For the host star we determined: Teff = (6128 ± 57) K, log g = (4.2 ± 0.1), and [Fe/H] = (+ 0.20 ± 0.04). The host is an intermediate age (∼3.5 Gyr), metal-rich, subgiant star with M⋆ = (1.32 ± 0.04) M⊙ and R⋆ = (1.82 ± 0.05) R⊙. The transiting body is a giant planet with a mass mp =(0.67 ± 0.03) Mj, a radius rp = (1.49 ± 0.04) Rj yielding a density ρp = (0.25 ± 0.02) g cm−3 and revolving around its star every ∼3.66 d. TIC 257060897b is an extreme system having one of the smallest densities known so far. We argued that the inflation of the planet’s radius may be related to the fast increase of luminosity of its host star as it evolves outside the main sequence and that systems like TIC 257060897b could be precursors of inflated radius short period planets found around low luminosity red giant branch stars, as recently debated in the literature.

Original Research By Young Twinkle Students (ORBYTS): Ephemeris Refinement of Transiting Exoplanets III

We report photometric follow-up observations of thirteen exoplanets (HATS-1 b, HATS-2 b, HATS-3 b, HAT-P-18 b, HAT-P-27 b, HAT-P-30 b, HAT-P-55 b, KELT-4A b, WASP-25 b, WASP-42 b, WASP-57 b, WASP-61 b and WASP-123 b), as part of the Original Research By Young Twinkle Students (ORBYTS) programme. All these planets are potentially viable targets for atmospheric characterisation and our data, which were taken using the LCOGT network of ground-based telescopes, will be combined with observations from other users of ExoClock to ensure that the transit times of these planets continue to be well-known, far into the future.

Photometric follow-up observations and transit timing analysis of HAT-P-37b

Abstract We performed follow-up photometric observations on exoplanetary system HAT-P-37 from 2011 February to 2019 September. The nine new transit light curves of the R and V bands are presented in this work. Based on the new light curves and published literature data, the physical and orbital parameters of HAT-P-37 are refined. In addition, mid-transit times are obtained to update the linear ephemeris, Tc[0] = 2456478.57916 ± 0.00077 [BJDTDB], P = 2.7974415 ± 0.0000025 d. Moreover, the transit timing variations (TTVs) have an rms of 57 s and there is no significant TTV signal. According to dynamic analysis, we excluded the possibility of perturbers with a mass larger than 200M⊕, when located in 1 : 3, 1 : 2, 2 : 3 (interior) or 3 : 2, 2 : 1, 5 : 2, 3 : 1 (exterior) orbital resonance, respectively.

Multiband Transit Follow-up Observations of Five Hot Jupiters with Critical Noise Treatments: Improved Physical Properties

Abstract The most challenging limitation in transit photometry arises from the noises in the photometric signal. In particular, the ground-based telescopes are heavily affected by the noise due to perturbation in the Earth’s atmosphere. Use of telescopes with large apertures can improve the photometric signal-to-noise ratio to a great extent. However, detecting a transit signal out of a noisy light curve of the host star and precisely estimating the transit parameters call for various noise reduction techniques. Here, we present multiband transit photometric follow-up observations of five hot Jupiters e.g., HAT-P-30 b, HAT-P-54 b, WASP-43 b, TrES-3 b, and XO-2 N b, using the 2 m Himalayan Chandra Telescope at the Indian Astronomical Observatory, Hanle, and the 1.3 m J. C. Bhattacharya Telescope at the Vainu Bappu Observatory, Kavalur. Our critical noise treatment approach includes techniques such as wavelet denoising and Gaussian process regression, which effectively reduce both time-correlated and time-uncorrelated noise components from our transit light curves. In addition to these techniques, use of our state-of-the-art model algorithms have allowed us to estimate the physical properties of the target exoplanets with a better accuracy and precision compared to the previous studies.

Absolute parameters and observed flares in the M-type detached eclipsing binary 2MASS J04100497+2931023

The eclipsing binary 2MASS J04100497+2931023 (J04100497+2931023) is classified its spectral type of M0 ± 2V on basis of a low-resolution spectral survey by the Large Sky Area Multi-Object Fiber Spectroscopic Telescope (LAMOST). The low-resolution spectra exhibit strong single-peak emission in the Hα line. We obtained the radial velocities of this binary by means of the Cross-Correlation Function method from the LAMOST medium-resolution spectra. Both components of J04100497+2931023 indicate strong emissions in the Hα line. We performed follow-up photometric observations of J04100497+2931023 using the Xinglong 85 cm telescope of National Astronomical Observatories, Chinese Academy of Sciences. We obtained its full light curve in VRI filters. We first determined their absolute parameters from simultaneously radial velocity and light curves by the Wilson-Devinney program. From our new light curves, we detected three flares for the first time, including one convective flare. The amplitudes, durations, energies, and spectral indices of three flares were also determined. J04100497+2931023 was monitored for approximately 29 h, which indicates that the flare rate is 0.1 flare per hour. We conclude that J04100497+2931023 is a low-mass detached eclipsing binary with strong magnetic activity.