Search for rings and satellites around the exoplanet CoRoT-9b using Spitzer photometry
Abstract
Using Spitzer photometry at 4.5 microns, we search for rings and satellites around the long period transiting planet CoRoT-9b. We observed two transits in 2010 and 2011. From their non-detection, we derive upper limits on the plausible physical characteristics of these objects in the planet environment. We show that a satellite larger than about 2.5 Earth radii is excluded at 3σ for a wide range of elongations at the two epochs of observations. Combining the two observations, we conclude that rings are excluded for a wide variety of sizes and inclination. We find that for a ring extending up to the Roche limit, its inclination angle from the edge-on configuration as seen from the Earth must be lower than 13° in the case of silicate composition and lower than 3° in the case of material with water ice density.
- Publication:
-
Astronomy and Astrophysics
- Pub Date:
- July 2017
- DOI:
- 10.1051/0004-6361/201730554
- arXiv:
- arXiv:1705.01836
- Bibcode:
- 2017A&A...603A.115L
- Keywords:
-
- planetary systems;
- stars: individual: CoRoT-9;
- techniques: photometric;
- Astrophysics - Earth and Planetary Astrophysics
- E-Print:
- Accepted for publication in A&