Low-eccentricity Orbits Research Articles

Design and Maintenance of Low-Earth Repeat-Ground-Track Successive-Coverage Orbits

R EPEAT-GROUNDTRACKorbits allow a satellite to reobserve any particular spot within the predefined period of time and have been employed in a number of Earth-observation and Earth-science missions, such as LANDSAT, SPOT, ENVISAT, RADARSAT and JASON [1]. Such orbits have, of course, clear military and intelligence applications as well. In the design and maintenance of a repeat-groundtrack orbit, effects from a nonspherical Earth and atmospheric drag need to be taken into account, as these factors are the primary causes of the groundtrack drift of low-Earth orbits. Inmissions that require precise groundtracks, the second term of the zonal geopotential harmonics has proven to be insufficient [1]. With such stringent requirements, higher orders of the geopotential harmonics have to be included in the orbit analysis and control. This was done by Vincent [2], and further investigation regarding orbit evolution caused by tesseral harmonics was presented by Ely and Howell [3]. Their work is useful when considering orbit propagation and has been employed in subsequent studies involving orbit design and maintenance. An example using repeat-groundtrack orbits is found in the work of Aorpimai and Palmer [1], in which a geopotential with an arbitrary number of terms in the spherical harmonics was included. The design and maintenance of a low eccentricity orbit for target access, based on the Gaussian equations, was considered by Sengupta et al. [4]. In all these studies, the groundtrack drift at equator crossing (GDEC) is used to evaluate the performance of the orbit maintenance strategy. However, GDEC does not describe the extent of drift at middle and high latitudes. Consequently, orbit maintenance strategies based on GDEC cannot ensure a high level of accuracy over the entire groundtrack, whichmay be crucial in somemissions, such as JASON [5] and ENVISAT [6]. Responsive orbits are those intended to meet the needs of responsive missions. They have the potential to provide means for communications and high-resolution surveillance anywhere in the world within hours of an identified demand [7]. In visual or radar observation missions, responsive orbits can be used to rapidly acquire information of given ground targets and are always lowaltitude and circular to achieve responsiveness and high ground resolution. A low-Earth successive-coverage orbit, a subtype of responsive orbits, can provide coverage of a given ground target for several successive orbits every day [7,8] and is suitable for Earthobservation and Earth-science missions. If a low-Earth successivecoverage orbit could repeat its groundtrack, it would allow for specific observations to be scheduled under exactly the same sensing conditions on a routine basis [9]. In this paper, a strategy for design andmaintenance of a low-Earth repeat-groundtrack successive-coverage orbits will be presented to achieve high-precision groundtracks. This orbit maintenance strategy is explained based on an analysis of drift over the entire groundtrack (not just GDEC); It not only can keep theGDECbelow a given threshold, but it also ensures the accuracy of the entire groundtrack.

Behavior of nearby synchronous rotations of a Poincaré–Hough satellite at low eccentricity

This paper presents a study of the Poincaré–Hough model of rotation of the synchronous natural satellites, in which these bodies are assumed to be composed of a rigid mantle and a triaxial cavity filled with inviscid fluid of constant uniform density and vorticity. In considering an Io-like body on a low eccentricity orbit, we describe the different possible behaviors of the system, depending on the size, polar flattening and shape of the core. We use for that the numerical tool. We propagate numerically the Hamilton equations of the system, before expressing the resulting variables under a quasi-periodic representation. This expression is obtained numerically by frequency analysis. This allows us to characterise the equilibria of the system, and to distinguish the causes of their time variations. We show that, even without orbital eccentricity, the system can have complex behaviors, in particular when the core is highly flattened. In such a case, the polar motion is forced by several degrees and longitudinal librations appear. This is due to splitting of the equilibrium position of the polar motion. We also get a shift of the obliquity when the polar flattening of the core is small.

New light-travel time models and orbital stability study of the proposed planetary system HU Aquarii

In this work we propose a new orbital architecture for the two proposed circumbinary planets around the polar eclipsing binary HU Aquarii. We base the new two-planet, light-travel time model on the result of a Monte Carlo simulation driving a least-squares Levenberg-Marquardt minimisation algorithm on the observed eclipse egress times. Our best-fitting model with $\chi_{r}^2=1.43$ resulted in high final eccentricities for the two companions leading to an unstable orbital configuration. From a large ensemble of initial guesses we examined the distribution of final eccentricities and semi-major axes for different $\chi_{r}^2$ parameter intervals and encountered qualitatively a second population of best-fitting parameters. The main characteristic of this population is described by low-eccentric orbits favouring long-term orbital stability of the system. We present our best-fitting model candidate for the proposed two-planet system and demonstrate orbital stability over one million years using numerical integrations.

Dependence of a planet’s chaotic zone on particle eccentricity: the shape of debris disc inner edges

The orbit of a planet is surrounded by a chaotic zone wherein nearby particles' orbits are chaotic and unstable. Wisdom (1980) showed that the chaos is driven by the overlap of mean motion resonances which occurs within a distance (da/a)_chaos = 1.3 mu^2/7 of the planet's orbit. However, the width of mean motion resonances grows with the particles' eccentricity, which will increase the width of the chaotic zone at higher eccentricities. Here we investigate the width of the chaotic zone using the iterated encounter map and N-body integrations. We find that the classical prescription works well for particles on low-eccentricity orbits. However, above a critical eccentricity, dependent upon the mass of the planet, the width of the chaotic zone increases with eccentricity. An extension of Wisdom's analytical arguments then shows that, above the critical eccentricity, the chaotic zone width is given by (da/a)_chaos = 1.8 e^1/5 mu^1/5, which agrees well with the encounter map results. The critical eccentricity is given by e_cr = 0.21 mu^3/7. This extended chaotic zone results in a larger cleared region when a planet sculpts the inner edge of a debris disc comprised of eccentric planetesimals. Hence, the planet mass estimated from the classical chaotic zone may be erroneous. We apply this result to the HR8799 system, showing that the masses of HR8799b inferred from the truncation of the disc may vary by up to 50% depending on the disc particles' eccentricities. With a disc edge at 90AU, the necessary mass of planet b to cause the truncation would be 8-10 Jovian masses if the disc particles have low eccentricities (<0.02), but only 4-8 Jovian masses if the disc particles have higher eccentricities. Our result also has implications for the ability of a planet to feed material into an inner system, a process which may explain metal pollution in White Dwarf atmospheres.

A FIRST MEASUREMENT OF THE PROPER MOTION OF THE LEO II DWARF SPHEROIDAL GALAXY

We use 14-year baseline images obtained with the Wide Field Planetary Camera 2 on board the Hubble Space telescope to derive a proper motion for one of the Milky Way's most distant dwarf spheroidal companions, Leo II, relative to an extragalactic background reference frame. Astrometric measurements are performed in the effective point spread function (ePSF) formalism using our own developed code. An astrometric reference grid is defined using 3,224 stars that are members of Leo II that are brighter than magnitude 25 in the F814W band. We identify 17 compact extra-galactic sources, for which we measure a systemic proper motion relative to this stellar reference grid. We derive a proper motion [\mu_{\alpha},\mu_{\delta}]=[+104+/-113,-33+/-151] microarcseconds/yr for Leo II in the heliocentric reference frame. Though marginally detected, the proper motion yields constraints on the orbit of Leo II. Given a distance of 230 Kpc and a heliocentric radial velocity +79 km/s, and after subtraction of the solar motion, our measurement indicates a total orbital motion 266.1+/-128.7 km/s in the Galactocentric reference frame, with a radial component +21.5+/-4.3 km/s and tangential component 265.2+/-129.4 km/s. The small radial component indicates that Leo II either has a low-eccentricity orbit, or is currently close to perigalacticon or apogalacticon distance. We see evidence for systematic errors in the astrometry of the extragalactic sources which, while close to being point sources, are slightly resolved in the HST images. We argue that more extensive observations at later epochs will be necessary to better constrain the proper motion of Leo II. We provide a detailed catalog of the stellar and extragalactic sources identified in the HST data which should provide a solid early-epoch reference for future astrometric measurements.

ORIGIN OF CHEMICAL AND DYNAMICAL PROPERTIES OF THE GALACTIC THICK DISK

We adopt a scenario in which the Galactic thick disk was formed by minor merging between the first generation of the Galactic thin disk (FGTD) and a dwarf galaxy about 9 Gyr ago and thereby investigate chemical and dynamical properties of the Galactic thick disk. In this scenario, the dynamical properties of the thick disk have long been influenced both by the mass growth of the second generation of the Galactic thin disk (i.e., the present thin disk) and by its non-axisymmetric structures. On the other hand, the early star formation history and chemical evolution of the thin disk was influenced by the remaining gas of the thick disk. Based on N-body simulations and chemical evolution models, we investigate the radial metallicity gradient, structural and kinematical properties, and detailed chemical abundance patterns of the thick disk. Our numerical simulations show that the ancient minor merger event can significantly flatten the original radial metallicity gradient of the FGTD, in particular, in the outer part, and also can be responsible for migration of inner metal-rich stars into the outer part (R>10kpc). The simulations show that the central region of the thick disk can develop a bar due to dynamical effects of a separate bar in the thin disk. The simulated orbital eccentricity distributions in the thick disk for models with higher mass-ratios (~0.2) and lower orbital eccentricities (~ 0.5) of minor mergers are in good agreement with the corresponding observations. The simulated V_{phi}-|z| relation of the thick disk in models with low orbital inclination angles of mergers are also in good agreement with the latest observational results. Our Galactic chemical evolution models can explain both the observed metallicity distribution functions (MDFs) and correlations between [Mg/Fe] and [Fe/H] for the two disks in a self-consistent manner.

A numerical simulation of a ‘Super-Earth’ core delivery from ∼100 to ∼8 au

We use SPH simulations with an approximate radiative cooling prescription to model evolution of a massive and large ($\sim 100$ AU) very young protoplanetary disc. We also model dust growth and gas-grain dynamics with a second fluid approach. It is found that the disc fragments onto a large number of $\sim 10$ Jupiter mass clumps that cool and contract slowly. Some of the clumps evolve onto eccentric orbits delivering them into the inner tens of AU, where they are disrupted by tidal forces from the star. Dust grows and sediments inside the clumps, displaying a very strong segregation, with the largest particles forming dense cores in the centres. The density of the dust cores may exceed that of the gas and is limited only by the numerical constraints, indicating that these cores should collapse into rocky planetary cores. One particular giant planet embryo migrates inward close enough to be disrupted at about 10 AU, leaving a self-bound solid core of about 7.5 $\mearth$ mass on a low eccentricity orbit at a radius of $\sim$ 8 AU. These simulations support the recent suggestions that terrestrial and giant planets may be the remnants of tidally disrupted giant planet embryos.

Case studies of habitable Trojan planets in the system of HD 23079

AbstractWe investigate the possibility of habitable Trojan planets in the HD 23079 star–planet system. This system consists of a solar-type star and a Jupiter-type planet, which orbits the star near the outer edge of the stellar habitable zone in an orbit of low eccentricity. We find that in agreement with previous studies Earth-mass habitable Trojan planets are possible in this system, although the success of staying within the zone of habitability is significantly affected by the orbital parameters of the giant planet and by the initial condition of the theoretical Earth-mass planet. In one of our simulations, the Earth-mass planet is captured by the giant planet and thus becomes a habitable moon.

DISCOVERY OF TWO MILLISECOND PULSARS INFERMISOURCES WITH THE NANÇAY RADIO TELESCOPE

We report the discovery of two millisecond pulsars in a search for radio pulsations at the positions of \emph{Fermi Large Area Telescope} sources with no previously known counterparts, using the Nan\c{c}ay radio telescope. The two millisecond pulsars, PSRs J2017+0603 and J2302+4442, have rotational periods of 2.896 and 5.192 ms and are both in binary systems with low-eccentricity orbits and orbital periods of 2.2 and 125.9 days respectively, suggesting long recycling processes. Gamma-ray pulsations were subsequently detected for both objects, indicating that they power the associated \emph{Fermi} sources in which they were found. The gamma-ray light curves and spectral properties are similar to those of previously-detected gamma-ray millisecond pulsars. Detailed modeling of the observed radio and gamma-ray light curves shows that the gamma-ray emission seems to originate at high altitudes in their magnetospheres. Additionally, X-ray observations revealed the presence of an X-ray source at the position of PSR J2302+4442, consistent with thermal emission from a neutron star. These discoveries along with the numerous detections of radio-loud millisecond pulsars in gamma rays suggest that many \emph{Fermi} sources with no known counterpart could be unknown millisecond pulsars.

Spectral Decomposition of Orbital Tori

The Kolmogorov―Arnold―Moser theorem states that lightly perturbed integrable Hamiltonian systems maintain their multiply periodic, toroidal motion in the phase space. The assertion that Earth-orbiting satellites under the influence of the geopotential mimic this behavior is the underlying premise of this work. This paper focuses on applying trajectory-following spectral methods on selected orbits to decompose them into multiperiodic Fourier series, effectively compressing ephemerides for long-term use. The proposed approach focuses on fitting local spectral structures, denoted as frequency clusters, within the sampled orbital data to the analytical form of the windowed, truncated, continuous Fourier transform. This approach is significantly more numerically efficient than fitting every coefficient within the N-tuple Fourier series simultaneously. Numerical simulations using integrated data yield root-mean-square error in orbital tori fits at 10 m or less per coordinate axis over a one-year period for most low-inclination, low-eccentricity orbits with altitudes lower than 1900 km.

On the influence of the Kozai mechanism in habitable zones of extrasolar planetary systems

Aims. We investigate the long-term evolution of inclined test particles representing a small Earth-like body with negligible gravitational effects (hereafter called massless test-planets) in the restricted three-body problem, and consisting of a star, a gas giant, and a massless test-planet. The test-planet is initially on a circular orbit and moves around the star at distances closer than the gas giant. The aim is to show the influences of the eccentricity and the mass of the gas giant on the dynamics, for various inclinations of the test-planet, and to investigate in more detail the Kozai mechanism in the elliptic problem.Methods. We performed a parametric study, integrating the orbital evolution of test particles whose initial conditions were distributed on the semi-major axis – inclination plane. The gas giant’s initial eccentricity was varied. For the calculations, we used the Lie integration method and in some cases the Bulirsch-Stoer algorithm. To analyze the results, the maximum eccentricity and the Lyapunov characteristic indicator were used. All integrations were performed for 105 periods of the gas giant.Results. Our calculations show that inclined massless test-planets can be in stable configurations with gas giants on either circular or elliptic orbits. The higher the eccentricity of the gas giant, the smaller the possible range in semi-major axis for the test-planet. For gas giants on circular orbits, our results illustrate the well-known results associated with the Kozai mechanism, which do not allow stable orbits above a critical inclination of approximately 40°. For gas giants on eccentric orbits, the dynamics is quite similar, and the massless companion exhibits limited variations in eccentricity. In addition, we identify a region around 35° consisting of long-time stable, low eccentric orbits. We show that these results are also valid for Earth-mass companions, therefore they can be applied to extrasolar systems: for instance, the extrasolar planetary system HD 154345 can possess a 35° degree inclined, nearly circular, Earth-mass companion in the habitable zone.

Low-Eccentricity Elliptic Orbits in a Central Force Field with Drag

This paper studies low-eccentricity elliptic orbits of satellites in the gravitational field of a spherical body or in the equatorial plane of an oblate body subject to the influence of quadratic drag. Approximate analytic expressions for these orbits are presented for different models of the atmospheric density. The orbits computed from these analytic expressions are compared with those obtained from the numerical integration of the exact equations of motion with the same atmospheric model. For low-eccentricity orbits the deviation between the analytic and numerical orbits after ten revolutions is less than 5 m. These results generalize similar analytical expressions that were derived recently for nearly-circular orbits.

Pervasive Orbital Eccentricities Dictate the Habitability of Extrasolar Earths

The long-term habitability of Earth-like planets requires low orbital eccentricities. A secular perturbation from a distant stellar companion is a very important mechanism in exciting planetary eccentricities, as many of the extrasolar planetary systems are associated with stellar companions. Although the orbital evolution of an Earth-like planet in a stellar binary system is well understood, the effect of a binary perturbation on a more realistic system containing additional gas-giant planets has been very little studied. Here, we provide analytic criteria confirmed by a large ensemble of numerical integrations that identify the initial orbital parameters leading to eccentric orbits. We show that an extrasolar earth is likely to experience a broad range of orbital evolution dictated by the location of a gas-giant planet, which necessitates more focused studies on the effect of eccentricity on the potential for life.

PHOTOMETRIC AND SPECTRAL SIGNATURES OF THREE-DIMENSIONAL MODELS OF TRANSITING GIANT EXOPLANETS

Using a three-dimensional general circulation model, we create dynamical model atmospheres of a representative transiting giant exoplanet, HD 209458b. We post-process these atmospheres with an opacity code to obtain transit radius spectra during the primary transit. Using a spectral atmosphere code, we integrate over the face of the planet seen by an observer at various orbital phases and calculate light curves as a function of wavelength and for different photometric bands. The products of this study are generic predictions for the phase variations of a zero-eccentricity giant planet's transit spectrum and of its light curves. We find that for these models the temporal variations in all quantities and the ingress/egress contrasts in the transit radii are small (<1.0%). Moreover, we determine that the day/night contrasts and phase shifts of the brightness peaks relative to the ephemeris are functions of photometric band. The J, H, and K bands are shifted most, while the IRAC bands are shifted least. Therefore, we verify that the magnitude of the downwind shift in the planetary "hot spot" due to equatorial winds is strongly wavelength dependent. The phase and wavelength dependence of light curves, as well as the associated day/night contrasts, can be used to constrain the circulation regime of irradiated giant planets and to probe different pressure levels of a hot Jupiter atmosphere. We posit that though our calculations focus on models of HD 209458b, similar calculations for other transiting hot Jupiters in low-eccentricity orbits should yield transit spectra and light curves of a similar character.

KEPLER-4b: A HOT NEPTUNE-LIKE PLANET OF A G0 STAR NEAR MAIN-SEQUENCE TURNOFF

Early time-series photometry from NASA's Kepler spacecraft has revealed a planet transiting the star we term Kepler-4, at RA = 19h02m27.68s, Dec = +50:08:08.7. The planet has an orbital period of 3.213 days and shows transits with a relative depth of 0.87 x 10^{-3} and a duration of about 3.95 hours. Radial velocity measurements from the Keck HIRES spectrograph show a reflex Doppler signal of 9.3 (+1.1 -1.9) m/s, consistent with a low-eccentricity orbit with the phase expected from the transits. Various tests show no evidence for any companion star near enough to affect the light curve or the radial velocities for this system. From a transit-based estimate of the host star's mean density, combined with analysis of high-resolution spectra, we infer that the host star is near turnoff from the main sequence, with estimated mass and radius of 1.223 (+0.053 -0.091) solar masses and 1.487 (+0.071 -0.084) solar radii. We estimate the planet mass and radius to be 24.5 +/- 3.8 Earth masses and 3.99 +/- 0.21 Earth radii. The planet's density is near 1.9 g/cm^3; it is thus slightly denser and more massive than Neptune, but about the same size.

High space velocities of single radio pulsars versus low orbital eccentricities and masses of double neutron stars: Evidence for two different neutron star formation mechanisms

Radio pulsars tend to be high-velocity objects, which implies that the majority of them received a velocity kick of several hundreds of km s −1 at birth. However, six of the eight known double neutron stars in the galactic disk have quite low orbital eccentricities (0.085–0.27), indicating – taking into account the eccentricity induced by the mass-loss effects in the second supernova – that their second-born neutron stars received hardly any velocity kick at birth. The second-born neutron stars in these systems tend to have low masses (1.25 ± 0.07 M ⊙) and the same is true for the neutron star in the close white dwarf-neutron star system PSRJ 1145-6545, which also is the second-born star in a system of low eccentricity ( e = 0.17). Such a low mass would fit well with the formation of the second-born neutron stars by the electron-capture collapse of a Chandrasekhar-mass degenerate O–Ne–Mg core of stars of initial main-sequence mass between 8 and about 12 M ⊙. Podsiadlowski et al. (2004) have pointed out that neutron-star formation in this mass range is possible only if the star is in a close binary, following loss of the hydrogen envelope, while single stars can leave neutron stars only if they started out with masses above about 12 M ⊙; in the latter case a neutron star forms by the final collapse of an iron core. We point out here that the low masses of the second-born neutron stars in the low-eccentricity double neutron stars, together with the high space velocities of the single radio pulsars find a consistent explanation if one postulates, following ( Van den Heuvel, 2004; Podsiadlowski et al., 2004; Dewi et al., 2005) that neutron stars formed by electron-capture collapse of a degenerate O–Ne–Mg core receive hardly any kick velocity at birth, whereas neutron stars formed by iron-core collapse receive a large space velocity at birth. The existence of a population of low-kick neutron stars in binaries has important implications for understanding the formation of the neutron star population of globular clusters and for the origin of low-mass X-ray binaries and their descendants, the wide circular-orbit binary radio pulsars.

A Bayesian periodogram finds evidence for three planets in 47 Ursae Majoris

A Bayesian analysis of 47 Ursae Majoris (47 UMa) radial velocity data confirms and refines the properties of two previously reported planets with periods of 1079 and 2325 days and finds evidence for an additional long period planet with a period of approximately 10000 days. The three planet model is found to be 10^5 times more probable than the next most probable model which is a two planet model. The nonlinear model fitting is accomplished with a new hybrid Markov chain Monte Carlo (HMCMC) algorithm which incorporates parallel tempering, simulated annealing and genetic crossover operations. Each of these features facilitate the detection of a global minimum in chi-squared. By combining all three, the HMCMC greatly increases the probability of realizing this goal. When applied to the Kepler problem it acts as a powerful multi-planet Kepler periodogram. The measured periods are 1078 \pm 2, 2391{+100}{-87}, and 14002{+4018}{-5095}d, and the corresponding eccentricities are 0.032 \pm 0.014, 0.098{+.047}{-.096}, and 0.16{+.09}{-.16}. The results favor low eccentricity orbits for all three. Assuming the three signals (each one consistent with a Keplerian orbit) are caused by planets, the corresponding limits on planetary mass (M sin i) and semi-major axis are (2.53{+.07}{-.06}MJ, 2.10\pm0.02au), (0.54\pm0.07MJ, 3.6\pm0.1au), and (1.6{+0.3}{-0.5}MJ, 11.6{+2.1}{-2.9}au), respectively. We have also characterized a noise induced eccentricity bias and designed a correction filter that can be used as an alternate prior for eccentricity, to enhance the detection of planetary orbits of low or moderate eccentricity.

Effect of the total solar irradiance variations on solar-sail low-eccentricity orbits

Solar photon sailing is based on the radiation pressure of the total solar irradiance (TSI). This note analyzes the effects of the actual irradiance on low-eccentricity orbits as an introductory work to much more complex cases such as sailcraft-Mars rendezvous. Two special orbits are considered: (1) a circular warning orbit and (2) a transfer orbit between Earth and Mars. It turns out that TSI fluctuations can cause large perturbations to these types of solar-sail trajectory.

The angular momentum of colliding rarefied preplanetesimals and the formation of binaries

This paper studies the mean angular momentum associated with the collision of two celestial objects in the earliest stages of planet formation. Of primary concern is the scenario of two rarefied preplanetesimals (RPPs) in circular heliocentric orbits. The theoretical results are used to develop models of binary or multiple system formation from RPPs, and explain the observation that a greater fraction of binaries originated farther from the Sun. At the stage of RPPs, small-body satellites can form in two ways: a merger between RPPs can have two centers of contraction, or the formation of satellites from a disc around the primary or the secondary. Formation of the disc can be caused by that the angular momentum of the RPP formed by the merger is greater than the critical angular momentum for a solid body. One or several satellites of the primary (moving mainly in low-eccentricity orbits) can be formed from this disc at any separation less than the Hill radius. The first scenario can explain a system such as 2001 QW322 where the two components have similar masses but are separated by a great distance. In general, any values for the eccentricity and inclination of the mutual orbit are possible. Among discovered binaries, the observed angular momenta are smaller than the typical angular momenta expected for identical RPPs having the same total mass as the discovered binary and encountering each other in circular heliocentric orbits. This suggests that the population of RPPs underwent some contraction before mergers became common.

A SUPER-EARTH ORBITING THE NEARBY SUN-LIKE STAR HD 1461

We present precision radial velocity 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 HIRES precision radial velocities indicate the presence of a 7.4M_Earth 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 (M sin i) of 27.9 and 87.1M_Earth, respectively. Test integrations of systems consistent with the radial velocity data suggest that the configuration is dynamically stable. We present a 12.2-year time series of photometric observations of HD 1461, which comprise 799 individual measurements, and indicate that it has excellent long-term photometric stability. However, there are small amplitude variations with periods comparable to those of the suspected 2nd and 3rd signals in the radial velocities near 5000 and 446 days, thus casting some suspicion on those periodicities as Keplerian signals. If the 5.77-day companion has a Neptune-like composition, then its expected transit depth is of order ~0.5 millimags. The geometric a priori probability of transits is ~8%. Phase-folding of the ground-based photometry shows no indication that transits of the 5.77-day companion are occurring, but high-precision follow-up of HD 1461 during upcoming transit phase windows will be required to definitively rule out or confirm transits. This new system joins a growing list of solar-type stars in the immediate galactic neighborhood that are accompanied by at least one Neptune- (or lower) mass planets having orbital periods of 50 days or less.