Kepler's Optical Phase Curve of the Exoplanet HAT-P-7b

• Published in: Science (American Association for the Advancement of Science) 2009-08, Vol.325 (5941), p.709-709
• Main Authors: Borucki, W.J, Koch, D, Jenkins, J, Sasselov, D, Gilliland, R, Batalha, N, Latham, D.W, Caldwell, D, Basri, G, Brown, T, Christensen-Dalsgaard, J, Cochran, W.D, DeVore, E, Dunham, E, Dupree, A.K, Gautier, T, Geary, J, Gould, A, Howell, S, Kjeldsen, H, Lissauer, J, Marcy, G, Meibom, S, Morrison, D, Tarter, J
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Astronomical transits; Astronomy; Brevia; Earth, ocean, space; Exact sciences and technology; Extrasolar planet detection; Extrasolar planetary systems; Extrasolar planets; Observational astronomy; Occultation; Optical observatories; Orbits; Photometric and spectroscopic detection; coronographic detection; interferometric detection; Space telescopes; Stars
• ISSN: 0036-8075; 1095-9203
• DOI: 10.1126/science.1178312

Ten days of photometric data were obtained during the commissioning phase of the Kepler mission, including data for the previously known giant transiting exoplanet HAT-P-7b. The data for HAT-P-7b show a smooth rise and fall of light from the planet as it orbits its star, punctuated by a drop of 130 ± 11 parts per million in flux when the planet passes behind its star. We interpret this as the phase variation of the dayside thermal emission plus reflected light from the planet as it orbits its star and is occulted. The depth of the occultation is similar in photometric precision to the detection of a transiting Earth-size planet for which the mission was designed.