1. GJ 832c: A SUPER-EARTH IN THE HABITABLE ZONE.
- Author
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Wittenmyer, Robert A., Tuomi, Mikko, Butler, R. P., Jones, H. R. A., Anglada-Escudé, Guillem, Horner, Jonathan, Tinney, C. G., Marshall, J. P., Carter, B. D., Bailey, J., Salter, G. S., O'Toole, S. J., Wright, D., Crane, J. D., Schectman, S. A., Arriagada, P., Thompson, I., Minniti, D., Jenkins, J. S., and Diaz, M.
- Subjects
ASTROBIOLOGY ,PLANETARY research ,NATURAL satellites ,RADIAL velocity of stars ,SPACE biology - Abstract
We report the detection of GJ 832c, a super-Earth orbiting near the inner edge of the habitable zone of GJ 832, an M dwarf previously known to host a Jupiter analog in a nearly circular 9.4 yr orbit. The combination of precise radial-velocity measurements from three telescopes reveals the presence of a planet with a period of 35.68 ± 0.03 days and minimum mass (m sin i) of 5.4 ± 1.0 Earth masses. GJ 832c moves on a low-eccentricity orbit (e = 0.18 ± 0.13) toward the inner edge of the habitable zone. However, given the large mass of the planet, it seems likely that it would possess a massive atmosphere, which may well render the planet inhospitable. Indeed, it is perhaps more likely that GJ 832c is a “super-Venus,” featuring significant greenhouse forcing. With an outer giant planet and an interior, potentially rocky planet, the GJ 832 planetary system can be thought of as a miniature version of our own solar system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2014
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