The Transiting System GJ1214: High-Precision Defocused Transit Observations and a Search for Evidence of Transit Timing Variation

Aims: We present 11 high-precision photometric transit observations of the transiting super-Earth planet GJ1214b. Combining these data with observations from other authors, we investigate the ephemeris for possible signs of transit timing variations (TTVs) using a Bayesian approach. Methods: The obs...

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Published in:arXiv.org 2012-09
Main Authors: Harpsøe, K B W, Hardis, S, Hinse, T C, Jørgensen, U G, Mancini, L, Southworth, J, Alsubai, K A, Bozza, V, Browne, P, Burgdorf, M J, Novati, S Calchi, Dodds, P, Dominik, M, X -S Fang, Finet, F, Gerner, T, S -H Gu, Hundertmark, M, Kains, N, Kerins, E, Kjeldsen, H, Liebig, C, Lund, M N, Lundkvist, M, Mathiasen, M, Nesvorný, D, Nikolov, N, Penny, M T, Proft, S, Rahvar, S, Ricci, D, Sahu, K C, Scarpetta, G, Schäfer, S, Schönebeck, F, Snodgrass, C, Skottfelt, J, Surdej, J, Tregloan-Reed, J, Wertz, O
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Bayesian analysis
Defocusing
Light curve
Mathematical analysis
Orbits
Photometry
Physical properties
Random errors
Transit time
Uncertainty
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Summary:Aims: We present 11 high-precision photometric transit observations of the transiting super-Earth planet GJ1214b. Combining these data with observations from other authors, we investigate the ephemeris for possible signs of transit timing variations (TTVs) using a Bayesian approach. Methods: The observations were obtained using telescope-defocusing techniques, and achieve a high precision with random errors in the photometry as low as 1mmag per point. To investigate the possibility of TTVs in the light curve, we calculate the overall probability of a TTV signal using Bayesian methods. Results: The observations are used to determine the photometric parameters and the physical properties of the GJ1214 system. Our results are in good agreement with published values. Individual times of mid-transit are measured with uncertainties as low as 10s, allowing us to reduce the uncertainty in the orbital period by a factor of two. Conclusions: A Bayesian analysis reveals that it is highly improbable that the observed transit times is explained by TTV, when compared with the simpler alternative of a linear ephemeris.
ISSN:2331-8422
DOI:10.48550/arxiv.1207.3064