NASA's Kepler Space Telescope Research Articles

New moon rising

Astronomy Although the existence of exomoons—moons orbiting extrasolar planets—is probable, direct observational evidence has been elusive. Previous observations made using NASA's Kepler space telescope suggested that Kepler-1625b, a Jupiter-sized planet orbiting the solar-mass yellow star Kepler-1625, may be orbited by an exomoon. Now, Teachey and Kipping report additional observations made using the Hubble Space Telescope, as well as a refined analysis of Kepler photometry data, that strongly support the exomoon hypothesis. This moon, if it exists, would be similar in size to Neptune or Uranus in our own Solar System. Sci. Adv. 10.1126/sciadv.aav1784 (2018).

Asteroseismic and orbital analysis of the triple star system HD 188753 observed by Kepler

Context. The NASA Kepler space telescope has detected solar-like oscillations in several hundreds of single stars, thereby providing a way to determine precise stellar parameters using asteroseismology. Aims. In this work, we aim to derive the fundamental parameters of a close triple star system, HD 188753, for which asteroseismic and astrometric observations allow independent measurements of stellar masses. Methods. We used six months of Kepler photometry available for HD 188753 to detect the oscillation envelopes of the two brightest stars. For each star, we extracted the individual mode frequencies by fitting the power spectrum using a maximum likelihood estimation approach. We then derived initial guesses of the stellar masses and ages based on two seismic parameters and on a characteristic frequency ratio, and modelled the two components independently with the stellar evolution code CESTAM. In addition, we derived the masses of the three stars by applying a Bayesian analysis to the position and radial-velocity measurements of the system. Results. Based on stellar modelling, the mean common age of the system is 10.8 ± 0.2 Gyr and the masses of the two seismic components are MA = 0.99 ± 0.01 M⊙ and MBa = 0.86 ± 0.01 M⊙. From the mass ratio of the close pair, MBb/MBa = 0.767 ± 0.006, the mass of the faintest star is MBb = 0.66 ± 0.01 M⊙ and the total seismic mass of the system is then Msyst = 2.51 ± 0.02 M⊙. This value agrees perfectly with the total mass derived from our orbital analysis, Msyst = 2.51−0.18+0.20 M⊙, and leads to the best current estimate of the parallax for the system, π = 21.9 ± 0.2 mas. In addition, the minimal relative inclination between the inner and outer orbits is 10.9° ± 1.5°, implying that the system does not have a coplanar configuration.

Constraining stellar physics from red-giant stars in binaries – stellar rotation, mixing processes and stellar activity

The unparalleled photometric data obtained by NASA's Kepler Space Telescope has led to an improved understanding of stellar structure and evolution - in particular for solar-like oscillators in this context. Binary stars are fascinating objects. Because they were formed together, binary systems provide a set of two stars with very well constrained parameters. Those can be used to study properties and physical processes, such as the stellar rotation, dynamics and rotational mixing of elements and allows us to learn from the differences we find between the two components. In this work, we discussed a detailed study of the binary system KIC9163796, discovered through Kepler photometry. The ground-based follow-up spectroscopy showed that this system is a double-lined spectroscopic binary, with a mass ratio close to unity. However, the fundamental parameters of the components of this system as well as their lithium abundances differ substantially. Kepler photometry of this system allows to perform a detailed seismic analysis as well as to derive the orbital period and the surface rotation rate of the primary component of the system. Indications of the seismic signature of the secondary are found. The differing parameters are best explained with both components located in the early and the late phase of the first dredge up at the bottom of the red-giant branch. Observed lithium abundances in both components are in good agreement with prediction of stellar models including rotational mixing. By combining observations and theory, a comprehensive picture of the system can be drawn.

Transit probabilities around hypervelocity and runaway stars

In the blooming field of exoplanetary science, NASA's Kepler Space Telescope has revolutionized our understanding of exoplanets. Kepler's very precise and long-duration photometry is ideal for detecting planetary transits around Sun-like stars. The forthcoming Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS) is expected to continue Kepler's legacy. Along with transits, the Doppler technique remains an invaluable tool for discovering planets. The next generation of spectrographs, such as G-CLEF, promises precision radial velocity measurements. In this paper, we explore the possibility of detecting planets around hypervelocity and runaway stars, which should host a very compact system as consequence of their turbulent origin. We find that the probability of a multi-planetary transit is $10^{-3}\lesssim P\lesssim 10^{-1}$. We therefore need to observe $\sim 10-1000$ high-velocity stars to spot a transit. However, even if transits are rare around runaway and hypervelocity stars, the chances of detecting such planets using radial velocity surveys is high. We predict that the European Gaia satellite, along with TESS and the new-generation spectrographs G-CLEF and ESPRESSO, will spot planetary systems orbiting high-velocity stars.

Crowdfunding Astronomy Research With Google Sky

<p>For nearly four years, NASA's Kepler space telescope searched for planets like Earth around more than 150,000 stars similar to the Sun. In 2008 with in-kind support from several technology companies, our non-profit organization established the Pale Blue Dot Project, an adopt-a-star program that supports scientific research on the stars observed by the Kepler mission. To help other astronomy educators conduct successful fundraising efforts, I describe how this innovative crowdfunding program successfully engaged the public over the past seven years to help support an international team in an era of economic austerity. </p>

Red-giant stars in eccentric binaries

The unparalleled photometric data obtained by NASA's Kepler Space Telescope has led to improved understanding of red-giant stars and binary stars. We discuss the characterization of known eccentric system, containing a solar-like oscillating red-giant primary component. We also report several new binary systems that are candidates for hosting an oscillating companion. A powerful approach to study binary stars is to combine asteroseimic techniques with light curve fitting. Seismology allows us to deduce the properties of red giants. In addition, by modeling the ellipsoidal modulations we can constrain the parameters of the binary system. An valuable independent source are ground-bases, high-resolution spectrographs.

Advances in exoplanet science from Kepler.

Numerous telescopes and techniques have been used to find and study extrasolar planets, but none has been more successful than NASA's Kepler space telescope. Kepler has discovered most of the known exoplanets, the smallest planets to orbit normal stars and the planets most likely to be similar to Earth. Most importantly, Kepler has provided us with our first look at the typical characteristics of planets and planetary systems for planets with sizes as small as, and orbits as large as, those of Earth.

Congress Examines Efforts to Search for Life in the Universe

“It is not hyperbolic to suggest that scientists could very well discover extraterrestrial intelligence within 2 decades' time or less, given resources to conduct the search,” Seth Shostak, senior astronomer with the SETI Institute, in Mountain View, Calif., testified at a 21 May congressional hearing held by the House of Representatives' Committee on Science, Space, and Technology. He pointed to the progress in extrasolar planet discovery made possible by NASA's Kepler space telescope, the enormous number of potential planets in the Milky Way and other galaxies, the increasing power of digital electronics to find and sort out radio and other signals, and other work related to exoplanets and astrobiology. It was the committee's third hearing on astrobiology and the search for life in the universe in roughly 1 year.

Pulsating red giant stars in eccentric binary systems discovered fromKeplerspace-based photometry

The unparalleled photometric data obtained by NASA's Kepler space telescope led to an improved understanding of red giant stars and binary stars. Seismology allows us to constrain the properties of red giants. In addition to eclipsing binaries, eccentric non-eclipsing binaries, exhibiting ellipsoidal modulations, have been detected with Kepler. We aim to study the properties of eccentric binary systems containing a red giant star and derive the parameters of the primary giant component. We apply asteroseismic techniques to determine masses and radii of the primary component of each system. For a selected target, light and radial velocity curve modelling techniques are applied to extract the parameters of the system. The effects of stellar on the binary system are studied. The paper presents the asteroseismic analysis of 18 pulsating red giants in eccentric binary systems, for which masses and radii were constrained. The orbital periods of these systems range from 20 to 440days. From radial velocity measurements we find eccentricities between e=0.2 to 0.76. As a case study we present a detailed analysis of KIC5006817. From seismology we constrain the rotational period of the envelope to be at least 165 d, roughly twice the orbital period. The stellar core rotates 13 times faster than the surface. From the spectrum and radial velocities we expect that the Doppler beaming signal should have a maximum amplitude of 300ppm in the light curve. Through binary modelling, we determine the mass of the secondary component to be 0.29$\pm$0.03\,$M_\odot$. For KIC5006817 we exclude pseudo-synchronous rotation of the red giant with the orbit. The comparison of the results from seismology and modelling of the light curve shows a possible alignment of the rotational and orbital axis at the 2$\sigma$ level. Red giant eccentric systems could be progenitors of cataclysmic variables and hot subdwarf B stars.

Kepler's continuing mission [News

In early August, the moment that Bill Borucki had been dreading finally arrived. As the principal investigator of NASA's Kepler space telescope, Borucki had been working with his colleagues since May to restore the spacecraft?s ability to precisely point itself.

How NASA Tried to Save Its Prime Planet-Spotter

With 130 extrasolar planets to its credit, NASA's Kepler space telescope was going strong—until mechanical breakdowns crippled it and left astronomers scrambling to find ways to keep the mission doing science.

SOAP-T: a tool to study the light curve and radial velocity of a system with a transiting planet and a rotating spotted star

We present an improved version of SOAP (Boisse et al. 2012) named "SOAP-T", which can generate the radial velocity variations and light-curves for systems consisting of a rotating spotted star with a transiting planet. This tool can be used to study the anomalies inside transit light-curves and the Rossiter-McLaughlin effect, to better constrain the orbital configuration and properties of planetary systems and active zones of their host stars. Tests of the code are presented to illustrate its performance and to validate its capability when compared with analytical models and real data. Finally, we apply SOAP-T to the active star, HAT-P-11, observed by the NASA Kepler space telescope and use this system to discuss the capability of this tool in analyzing light-curves for the cases where the transiting planet overlaps with the star's spots.

Constraining the core‐rotation rate in red‐giant stars from Kepler space photometry

AbstractRotation plays a key role in stellar structure and its evolution. Through transport processes which induce rotational mixing of chemical species and the redistribution of angular momentum, internal stellar rotation influences the evolutionary tracks in the Hertzsprung‐Russell diagram. In turn, evolution influences the rotational properties. Therefore, information on the rotational properties of the deep interior would help to better understand the stellar evolution. However, as the internal rotational profile cannot be measured directly, it remains a major unknown leaving this important aspect of models unconstrained. We can test for nonrigid rotation inside the stars with asteroseismology. Through the effect of rotational splitting of non‐radial oscillation modes, we investigate the internal rotation profile indirectly. Red giants have very slow rotation rates leading to a rotational splitting on the level of a few tenth of a μHz. Only from more than 1.5 years of consecutive data from the NASA Kepler space telescope, these tiny variations could be resolved. A qualitative comparison to theoretical models allowed constraining the core‐to‐surface rotation rate for some of these evolved stars. In this paper, we report on the first results of a large sample study of splitting of individual dipole modes (© 2012 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)

ASTEROSEISMOLOGY OF THE OPEN CLUSTERS NGC 6791, NGC 6811, AND NGC 6819 FROM 19 MONTHS OFKEPLERPHOTOMETRY

We studied solar-like oscillations in 115 red giants in the three open clusters NGC 6791, NGC 6811, and NGC 6819, based on photometric data covering more than 19 months with NASA's Kepler space telescope. We present the asteroseismic diagrams of the asymptotic parameters \delta\nu_02, \delta\nu_01 and \epsilon, which show clear correlation with fundamental stellar parameters such as mass and radius. When the stellar populations from the clusters are compared, we see evidence for a difference in mass of the red giant branch stars, and possibly a difference in structure of the red clump stars, from our measurements of the small separations \delta\nu_02 and \delta\nu_01. Ensemble \'{e}chelle diagrams and upper limits to the linewidths of l = 0 modes as a function of \Delta\nu of the clusters NGC 6791 and NGC 6819 are also shown, together with the correlation between the l = 0 ridge width and the T_eff of the stars. Lastly, we distinguish between red giant branch and red clump stars through the measurement of the period spacing of mixed dipole modes in 53 stars among all the three clusters to verify the stellar classification from the color-magnitude diagram. These seismic results also allow us to identify a number of special cases, including evolved blue stragglers and binaries, as well as stars in late He-core burning phases, which can be potentially interesting targets for detailed theoretical modeling.

Kepler’s surprise: The sounds of the stars

Data from NASA's Kepler space telescope have revolutionized the search for planets outside the Solar System — and are now doing the same for asteroseismology.

AMPLITUDES OF SOLAR-LIKE OSCILLATIONS: CONSTRAINTS FROM RED GIANTS IN OPEN CLUSTERS OBSERVED BY KEPLER

Scaling relations that link asteroseismic quantities to global stellar properties are important for gaining understanding of the intricate physics that underpins stellar pulsation. The common notion that all stars in an open cluster have essentially the same distance, age, and initial composition, implies that the stellar parameters can be measured to much higher precision than what is usually achievable for single stars. This makes clusters ideal for exploring the relation between the mode amplitude of solar-like oscillations and the global stellar properties. We have analyzed data obtained with NASA's Kepler space telescope to study solar-like oscillations in 100 red giant stars located in either of the three open clusters, NGC 6791, NGC 6819, and NGC 6811. By fitting the measured amplitudes to predictions from simple scaling relations that depend on luminosity, mass, and effective temperature, we find that the data cannot be described by any power of the luminosity-to-mass ratio as previously assumed. As a result we provide a new improved empirical relation which treats luminosity and mass separately. This relation turns out to also work remarkably well for main-sequence and subgiant stars. In addition, the measured amplitudes reveal the potential presence of a number of previously unknown unresolved binaries in the red clump in NGC 6791 and NGC 6819, pointing to an interesting new application for asteroseismology as a probe into the formation history of open clusters.