Kepler-76b

Kepler-76b
Discovery
Discovery dateMay, 2013
Stellar flux variations due to relativistic beaming,
Transit (Kepler Mission)
Orbital characteristics
0.028 AU
Eccentricity~0
1.54492875 d
Inclination78
StarKepler-76
Physical characteristics
1.25 RJ
Mass~2 MJ
Mean density
1.4 g/cm3 (0.051 lb/cu in)
Albedo0.23 (visible light)
Temperature2830+50
−30
[1]

Kepler-76b is a gas giant with mass about two times that of Jupiter.[2]

It is a Hot Jupiter that orbits its star every 1.5 days. It was confirmed with the Trans-Atlantic Exoplanet Survey and the SOPHIE échelle spectrograph.

Detection

[edit]

The planet was discovered by observing the amount of stellar flux reaching the Earth. The existence of the planet was confirmed by also observing the reflected starlight from the planet, the shape of the star due to gravitational tug from the planet and radial velocity method. Finally, part of the planet was found transiting the parent star with secondary occultation also being detected.[2][3]

It is the first planet detected using Einstein's special relativity.

Characteristics

[edit]

Kepler-76b is slightly denser than Jupiter indicating that it is not a puffy planet. Nonetheless, it is very hot with measured dayside temperature of 2830+50
−30
K. It also exhibits a strong winds and variable clouds in the atmosphere.[1]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b Jackson, Brian; Adams, Elisabeth; Sandidge, Wesley; Kreyche, Steven; Briggs, Jennifer (2019), "Variability in the Atmosphere of the Hot Jupiter Kepler-76b", The Astronomical Journal, 157 (6): 239, arXiv:1905.07781, Bibcode:2019AJ....157..239J, doi:10.3847/1538-3881/ab1b30, S2CID 159041579
  2. ^ a b Faigler, S.; et al. (2013). "BEER Analysis of Kepler and CoRoT Light Curves. I. Discovery of Kepler-76b: A Hot Jupiter with Evidence for Superrotation". The Astrophysical Journal. 771 (1). 26. arXiv:1304.6841. Bibcode:2013ApJ...771...26F. doi:10.1088/0004-637X/771/1/26. S2CID 119247392.
  3. ^ "New Method of Finding Planets Scores its First Discovery". kepler.nasa.gov. Archived from the original on November 23, 2013. Retrieved May 14, 2013.
[edit]