21 research outputs found

    The K2-ESPRINT Project III: A Close-in Super-Earth around a Metal-rich Mid-M Dwarf

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    We validate a Rp=2.32±0.24RR_p=2.32\pm 0.24R_\oplus planet on a close-in orbit (P=2.260455±0.000041P=2.260455\pm 0.000041 days) around K2-28 (EPIC 206318379), a metal-rich M4-type dwarf in the Campaign 3 field of the K2 mission. Our follow-up observations included multi-band transit observations from the optical to the near infrared, low-resolution spectroscopy, and high-resolution adaptive-optics (AO) imaging. We perform a global fit to all the observed transits using a Gaussian process-based method and show that the transit depths in all passbands adopted for the ground-based transit follow-ups (r2,zs,2,J,H,Ksr'_2, z_\mathrm{s,2}, J, H, K_\mathrm{s}) are within 2σ\sim 2\sigma of the K2 value. Based on a model of the background stellar population and the absence of nearby sources in our AO imaging, we estimate the probability that a background eclipsing binary could cause a false positive to be <2×105< 2\times 10^{-5}. We also show that K2-28 cannot have a physically associated companion of stellar type later than M4, based on the measurement of almost identical transit depths in multiple passbands. There is a low probability for a M4 dwarf companion (0.0720.04+0.02\approx 0.072_{-0.04}^{+0.02}), but even if this were the case, the size of K2-28b falls within the planetary regime. K2-28b has the same radius (within 1σ1\sigma) and experiences a similar irradiation from its host star as the well-studied GJ~1214b. Given the relative brightness of K2-28 in the near infrared (mKep=14.85m_\mathrm{Kep}=14.85 mag and mH=11.03m_H=11.03 mag) and relatively deep transit (0.60.7%0.6-0.7\%), a comparison between the atmospheric properties of these two planets with future observations would be especially interesting.Comment: 11 pages, 9 figures, accepted to Ap

    Multicolor and multi-spot observations of Starlink's Visorsat

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    This study provides the results of simultaneous multicolor observations for the first Visorsat (STARLINK-1436) and the ordinary Starlink satellite, STARLINK-1113 in the UU, BB, VV, gg', rr, ii, RCR_{\rm C}, ICI_{\rm C}, zz, JJ, HH, and KsK_s bands to quantitatively investigate the extent to which Visorsat reduces its reflected light. Our results are as follows: (1) in most cases, Virorsat is fainter than STARLINK-1113, and the sunshade on Visorsat, therefore, contributes to the reduction of the reflected sunlight; (2) the magnitude at 550 km altitude (normalized magnitude) of both satellites often reaches the naked-eye limiting magnitude (<< 6.0); (3) from a blackbody radiation model of the reflected flux, the peak of the reflected components of both satellites is around the zz band; and (4) the albedo of the near infrared range is larger than that of the optical range. Under the assumption that Visorsat and STARLINK-1113 have the same reflectivity, we estimate the covering factor, CfC_{\rm f}, of the sunshade on Visorsat, using the blackbody radiation model: the covering factor ranges from 0.18Cf0.920.18 \leq C_{\rm f} \leq 0.92. From the multivariable analysis of the solar phase angle (Sun-target-observer), the normalized magnitude, and the covering factor, the phase angle versus covering factor distribution presents a moderate anti-correlation between them, suggesting that the magnitudes of Visorsat depend not only on the phase angle but also on the orientation of the sunshade along our line of sight. However, the impact on astronomical observations from Visorsat-designed satellites remains serious. Thus, new countermeasures are necessary for the Starlink satellites to further reduce reflected sunlight.Comment: 31 pages, 9 figures, published in PAS
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