STELLAR ACTIVITY and EXCLUSION of the OUTER PLANET in the HD 99492 SYSTEM

Stephen R. Kane, Badrinath Thirumalachari, Gregory W. Henry, Natalie R. Hinkel, Eric L.N. Jensen, Tabetha S. Boyajian, Debra A. Fischer, Andrew W. Howard, Howard T. Isaacson, Jason T. Wright

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28 Scopus citations

Abstract

A historical problem for indirect exoplanet detection has been contending with the intrinsic variability of the host star. If the variability is periodic, it can easily mimic various exoplanet signatures, such as radial velocity (RV) variations that originate with the stellar surface rather than the presence of a planet. Here we present an update for the HD 99492 planetary system, using new RV and photometric measurements from the Transit Ephemeris Refinement and Monitoring Survey. Our extended time series and subsequent analyses of the Ca ii H&K emission lines show that the host star has an activity cycle of ∼13 years. The activity cycle correlates with the purported orbital period of the outer planet, the signature of which is thus likely due to the host star activity. We further include a revised Keplerian orbital solution for the remaining planet, along with a new transit ephemeris. Our transit-search observations were inconclusive.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Article numberL5
JournalAstrophysical Journal Letters
Volume820
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - Mar 20 2016

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • Astronomy and Astrophysics
  • Space and Planetary Science

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