509 research outputs found
Seeing double with K2: Testing re-inflation with two remarkably similar planets around red giant branch stars
Despite more than 20 years since the discovery of the first gas giant planet
with an anomalously large radius, the mechanism for planet inflation remains
unknown. Here, we report the discovery of EPIC228754001.01, an inflated gas
giant planet found with the NASA K2 Mission, and a revised mass for another
inflated planet, K2-97b. These planets reside on ~9 day orbits around host
stars which recently evolved into red giants. We constrain the irradiation
history of these planets using models constrained by asteroseismology and
Keck/HIRES spectroscopy and radial velocity measurements. We measure planet
radii of 1.31 +\- 0.11 Rjup and and 1.30 +\- 0.07 Rjup, respectively. These
radii are typical for planets receiving the current irradiation, but not the
former, zero age main sequence irradiation of these planets. This suggests that
the current sizes of these planets are directly correlated to their current
irradiation. Our precise constraints of the masses and radii of the stars and
planets in these systems allow us to constrain the planetary heating efficiency
of both systems as 0.03% +0.03%/-0.02%. These results are consistent with a
planet re-inflation scenario, but suggest the efficiency of planet re-inflation
may be lower than previously theorized. Finally, we discuss the agreement
within 10% of stellar masses and radii, and planet masses, radii, and orbital
periods of both systems and speculate that this may be due to selection bias in
searching for planets around evolved stars.Comment: 18 pages, 15 figures, accepted to AJ. Figures 11, 12, and 13 are the
key figures of the pape
K2-231 b: A sub-Neptune exoplanet transiting a solar twin in Ruprecht 147
We identify a sub-Neptune exoplanet ( R)
transiting a solar twin in the Ruprecht 147 star cluster (3 Gyr, 300 pc, [Fe/H]
= +0.1 dex). The ~81 day light curve for EPIC 219800881 (V = 12.71) from K2
Campaign 7 shows six transits with a period of 13.84 days, a depth of ~0.06%,
and a duration of ~4 hours. Based on our analysis of high-resolution MIKE
spectra, broadband optical and NIR photometry, the cluster parallax and
interstellar reddening, and isochrone models from PARSEC, Dartmouth, and MIST,
we estimate the following properties for the host star: M, R, and K. This star appears to be single, based on our modeling of the
photometry, the low radial velocity variability measured over nearly ten years,
and Keck/NIRC2 adaptive optics imaging and aperture-masking interferometry.
Applying a probabilistic mass-radius relation, we estimate that the mass of
this planet is M, which would cause a RV
semi-amplitude of m s that may be measurable with existing
precise RV facilities. After statistically validating this planet with BLENDER,
we now designate it K2-231 b, making it the second sub-stellar object to be
discovered in Ruprecht 147 and the first planet; it joins the small but growing
ranks of 23 other planets found in open clusters.Comment: 24 pages, 7 figures, light curve included as separate fil
Economic Impact and Social Benefits Study of Coldwater Angling in Minnesota
Saint Paul: University of Minnesota Extension Service, Tourism Center.This study was conducted of anglers utilizing Minnesota’s northeast region cold-water fisheries in 2000-2001, and was based upon a staged mail-back questionnaire sent to anglers who had purchased a trout/salmon stamp from the Minnesota DNR. The purpose of this study was to investigate the economic and social benefits of coldwater angling participation in the state of Minnesota. Overall 10,297 questionnaires were mailed, and 3,029 returned for a response rate of 33%. Two null hypotheses guided this study: 1. There are no expenditure differences between the different types of coldwater angling investigated. 2. There are no experience differences between the different types of coldwater anglers. The survey looked at access points; bait used; species preferences; preference for fishing location; angler age, gender and education; trip distance; purpose of anglers’ trips; and numerous other behaviors and preferences. It also assessed the economic impact of anglers on local economies. The report notes that “fishing equipment was the largest expenditure in preparation for the trip (33.90 per person per day. The largest expenses en route and onsite were lodging (12.55/person/day), and gas (71.31 per person daily. In sum, the typical coldwater angler spent $105.21/day. Overall, anglers were satisfied with their trip, and the quality, size and number of fish caught. The study concludes with the following findings: “There were many differences noted between the five different types of fishing investigated in this study. The differences were substantial, significant, and revealing. The evidence presented strongly argues for rejecting both of the null hypotheses used to guide this research. Therefore, we can state with a high degree of certainty that expenditure differences do exist for anglers between the different types of coldwater angling and that different experiences are sought by anglers engaging in different types of fishing. The research that allowed us to reject both null hypotheses also provides us with some interesting insights into other differences between anglers in the five different fishing types.
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The Neurovascular Relation in Oxygen-induced Retinopathy
Purpose: Longitudinal studies in rat models of retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) have demonstrated that abnormalities of retinal vasculature and function change hand-in-hand. In the developing retina, vascular and neural structures are under cooperative molecular control. In this study of rats with oxygen-induced retinopathy (OIR) models of ROP, mRNA expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), semaphorin (Sema), and their neuropilin receptor (NRP) were examined during the course of retinopathy to evaluate their roles in the observed neurovascular congruency. Methods: Oxygen exposures designed to induce retinopathy were delivered to Sprague-Dawley rat pups (n=36) from postnatal day (P) 0 to P14 or from P7 to P14. Room-air-reared controls (n=18) were also studied. Sensitivities of the rod photoreceptors () and the postreceptor cells (Sm) were derived from electroretinographic (ERG) records. Arteriolar tortuosity, , was derived from digital fundus images using Retinal Image multi-Scale Analysis (RISA) image analysis software. mRNA expression of , semaphorin IIIA (Sema3A), and neuropilin-1 (NRP-1) was evaluated by RT–PCR of retinal extracts. Tests were performed at P15–P16, P18–P19, and P25–P26. Relations among ERG, RISA, and PCR parameters were evaluated using linear regression on log transformed data. Results: Sm was low and was high at young ages, then both resolved by P25–P26. and Sema3A mRNA expression were also elevated early and decreased with age. Low Sm was significantly associated with high and Sema3A expression. Low Srod was also significantly associated with high VEGF164. and Sm were both correlated with . NRP-1 expression was little affected by OIR. Conclusions: The postreceptor retina appears to mediate the vascular abnormalities that characterize OIR. Because of the relationships revealed by these data, early treatment that targets the neural retina may mitigate the effects of ROP
K2-19b and c are in a 3:2 Commensurability but out of Resonance: A Challenge to Planet Assembly by Convergent Migration
K2-19b and c were among the first planets discovered by NASA's K2 mission and together stand in stark contrast with the physical and orbital properties of the solar system planets. The planets are between the size of Uranus and Saturn at 7.0 ± 0.2 R⊕ and 4.1 ± 0.2 R⊕, respectively, and reside a mere 0.1% outside the nominal 3:2 mean-motion resonance. They represent a different outcome of the planet formation process than the solar system, as well as the vast majority of known exoplanets. We measured the physical and orbital properties of these planets using photometry from K2, Spitzer, and ground-based telescopes, along with radial velocities from Keck/HIRES. Through a joint photodynamical model, we found that the planets have moderate eccentricities of e ≈ 0.20 and well-aligned apsides Δϖ ≈ 0°. The planets occupy a strictly nonresonant configuration: the resonant angles circulate rather than librate. This defies the predictions of standard formation pathways that invoke convergent or divergent migration, both of which predict Δ ≈ 180° and eccentricities of a few percent or less. We measured masses of M_(p,b) = 32.4 ± 1.7 M⊕ and M_(p,c) = 10.8 ± 0.6 M⊕. Our measurements, with 5% fractional uncertainties, are among the most precise of any sub-Jovian exoplanet. Mass and size reflect a planet's core/envelope structure. Despite having a relatively massive core of M_(core) ≈ 15 M⊕, K2-19b is envelope-rich, with an envelope mass fraction of roughly 50%. This planet poses a challenge to standard models of core-nucleated accretion, which predict that cores ≳10 M⊕ will quickly accrete gas and trigger runaway accretion when the envelope mass exceeds that of the core
The Discovery of the Long-Period, Eccentric Planet Kepler-88 d and System Characterization with Radial Velocities and Photodynamical Analysis
We present the discovery of Kepler-88 d (P_d = 1403±14 , M sin i_d = 970±50M⊕ = 3.05±0.16M_J, e_d = 0.42±0.04) based on six years of radial velocity (RV) follow-up from the W. M. Keck Observatory High Resolution Echelle Spectrometer spectrograph. Kepler-88 has two previously identified planets. Kepler-88 b (KOI-142.01) transits in the NASA Kepler photometry and has very large transit timing variations (TTVs). Nesvorný et al. performed a dynamical analysis of the TTVs to uniquely identify the orbital period and mass of the perturbing planet (Kepler-88 c), which was later was confirmed with RVs from the Observatoire de Haute-Provence (OHP). To fully explore the architecture of this system, we performed photodynamical modeling on the Kepler photometry combined with the RVs from Keck and OHP and stellar parameters from spectroscopy and Gaia. Planet d is not detectable in the photometry, and long-baseline RVs are needed to ascertain its presence. A photodynamical model simultaneously optimized to fit the RVs and Kepler photometry yields the most precise planet masses and orbital properties yet for b and c: P_b = 10.91647±0.00014days, M_b = 9.5±1.2M⊕, P_c = 22.2649±0.0007 days, and M_c = 214.1±5.3M⊕. The photodynamical solution also finds that planets b and c have low eccentricites and low mutual inclination, are apsidally anti-aligned, and have conjunctions on the same hemisphere of the star. Continued RV follow-up of systems with small planets will improve our understanding of the link between inner planetary system architectures and giant planets
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