Accurate, Empirical Radii and Masses of Planets and their Host Stars with Gaia Parallaxes
read the original abstract
We present empirical measurements of the radii of 116 stars that host transiting planets. These radii are determined using only direct observables-the bolometric flux at Earth, the effective temperature, and the parallax provided by the Gaia first data release-and thus are virtually model independent, extinction being the only free parameter. We also determine each star's mass using our newly determined radius and the stellar density, itself a virtually model independent quantity from previously published transit analyses. These stellar radii and masses are in turn used to redetermine the transiting planet radii and masses, again using only direct observables. The median uncertainties on the stellar radii and masses are ~8% and ~30%, respectively, and the resulting uncertainties on the planet radii and masses are ~9% and ~22%, respectively. These accuracies are generally larger than previously published model-dependent precisions of ~5% and ~6% on the planet radii and masses, respectively, but the newly determined values are purely empirical. We additionally report radii for 242 stars hosting radial-velocity (non-transiting) planets, with median achieved accuracy of ~2%. Using our empirical stellar masses we verify that the majority of putative "retired A stars" in the sample are indeed more massive than ~1.2 Msun. Most importantly, the bolometric fluxes and angular radii reported here for a total of 498 planet host stars-with median accuracies of 1.7% and 1.8%, respectively-serve as a fundamental dataset to permit the re-determination of transiting planet radii and masses with the Gaia second data release to ~3% and ~5% accuracy, better than currently published precisions, and determined in an entirely empirical fashion.
This paper has not been read by Pith yet.
Forward citations
Cited by 15 Pith papers
-
The 35-Myr old infant planet TOI-837 b has a mildly misaligned orbit
TOI-837 b has a true obliquity of 25.9+7.5-6.3 deg, the first planet younger than 100 Myr with accessible ψ incompatible with an aligned orbit, favoring primordial disc torque followed by disc-driven migration.
-
Unraveling the Mystery of the Peculiar and Young Hot Jupiter CoRoT-2b II: Phase Resolved Emission Spectroscopy with VLT/CRIRES+ and Gemini-S/IGRINS
Phase-resolved high-resolution spectroscopy of CoRoT-2b measures sub-synchronous rotation at 2.6-sigma significance, consistent with its western hotspot offset.
-
Magnesium Silicate Clouds in the Atmosphere of HD 209458b from a Rule-Based Tree-Structured Data Reduction
JWST MIRI/LRS data combined with archival observations detect magnesium silicate clouds (likely Mg2SiO4) in HD 209458b at 1-10 mbar with ~0.1 micron particles using a new rule-based data reduction approach.
-
The NUV transit of XO-3 b
XO-3 b exhibits a 30-70% deeper NUV transit depth of 0.1371 and a 22-minute late center relative to the optical ephemeris, with an extremely low estimated mass-loss rate and a bow-shock model that predicts the opposit...
-
ASTEP confirmation of a pair of long-period Jupiter-sized planets with extremely low densities transiting TOI-791
Two extremely low-density Jupiter-sized planets on long-period orbits around TOI-791 were confirmed via ground-based photometry and TTV-derived masses.
-
A comprehensive Rossiter-Mclaughlin Modelling Framework in TLCM: Application to HD 2685 $=$ TOI-135 system
Updated RM modeling framework in TLCM validated on nine systems and applied to TOI-135 to measure sky-projected obliquity λ = 55.6° with ~11° uncertainties.
-
A public dataset of Ariel simulated observations for developing exoplanetary atmosphere data reduction pipelines
A comprehensive public dataset of simulated Ariel exoplanet transmission spectra is released to benchmark detrending algorithms, with an ML baseline highlighting dataset shift risks.
-
A tidally detached super Neptune on a strongly misaligned retrograde orbit
TOI-1710 b has a true obliquity of 149 degrees indicating retrograde motion, favoring high-eccentricity migration via planet-planet scattering and Kozai-Lidov cycles for this tidally detached super-Neptune.
-
On the Information Content of Ariel Transmission Spectra: Reassessing the Tier System
Tier 1 Ariel spectra suffice for sub-1.5 dex constraints on H2O and CO2 in giant-planet atmospheres, with higher tiers providing only incremental gains and more molecules in select cases.
-
The NUV transit of XO-3 b
NUV transit depth of XO-3b measured at 0.1371 with 22-minute late center; X-ray data yield mass-loss rate ~10^4 g/s; bow-shock model predicts early rather than late transit.
-
TOI-159 b: an eccentric hot-Jupiter planet around a young, pulsating $\gamma$ Doradus star
TOI-159 b is confirmed as the hottest known eccentric hot Jupiter (e = 0.24) with a 13-sigma Keplerian detection around a young gamma Doradus star, including a preliminary low-resolution transmission spectrum.
-
JWST Exoplanetary Worlds and Elemental Survey (JEWELS) II: Condensation Temperature Trends and Galactic Chemical Evolution in JWST Planet-Hosting Stars
New homogeneous abundances for 19 elements in 25 JWST planet-host stars show Tcond slopes independent of stellar and planetary properties after GCE correction, indicating mixed origins requiring careful interpretation.
-
JWST Exoplanetary Worlds and Elemental Survey (JEWELS) II: Condensation Temperature Trends and Galactic Chemical Evolution in JWST Planet-Hosting Stars
Condensation temperature trends in JWST planet-host stars are independent of stellar and planetary properties after GCE correction, indicating mixed origins from galactic evolution and stellar processes.
-
Mars as an Exoplanet: Lessons from a Planet at the Edge of Habitability
Mars provides key diagnostics for volatile delivery, atmospheric escape, and climate processes on small rocky exoplanets near the edge of habitability.
-
Comparing Results from Two Uniform Phase Curve Surveys
Comparison of two exoplanet phase curve surveys shows population-level consistency but individual variations, plus a Kepler's law inconsistency in archival parameters that warrants routine verification.
discussion (0)
Sign in with ORCID, Apple, or X to comment. Anyone can read and Pith papers without signing in.