Detection of a Neptune-Mass Planet in the ρ1 Cancri System Using the Hobby-Eberly Telescope
Abstract
We report the detection of the lowest mass extrasolar planet yet found around a Sun-like star-a planet with an Msini of only 14.21+/-2.91 M⊕ in an extremely short period orbit (P=2.808 days) around ρ1 Cancri, a planetary system that already has three known planets. Velocities taken from late 2003-2004 at McDonald Observatory with the Hobby-Eberly Telescope revealed this inner planet at 0.04 AU. We estimate an inclination of the outer planet ρ1 Cancri d, based on Hubble Space Telescope Fine Guidance Sensor measurements that suggest an inner planet of only 17.7+/-5.57 M⊕, if coplanarity is assumed for the system.
- Publication:
-
The Astrophysical Journal
- Pub Date:
- October 2004
- DOI:
- 10.1086/425561
- arXiv:
- arXiv:astro-ph/0408585
- Bibcode:
- 2004ApJ...614L..81M
- Keywords:
-
- Astrometry;
- Stars: Planetary Systems;
- Stars: Individual: Constellation Name: ρ1 Cancri;
- Astrophysics
- E-Print:
- Accepted by ApJ Letters