Exoplanet HD 80606b Infrared Light Curve

Spitzer_ssc2009-02a_1024

spitzer_ssc2009-02a January 28th, 2009

Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/G. Laughlin (UCD/Lick Observatory)

This figure charts 30 hours of observations taken by NASA's Spitzer Space Telescope of a strongly irradiated exoplanet (an planet orbiting a star beyond our own). Spitzer measured changes in the planet's heat, or infrared light.

The lower graph shows precise measurements of infrared light with a wavelength of 8 microns coming from the HD 80606 stellar system. The system consists of a sun-like star and a planetary companion on an extremely eccentric, comet-like orbit. The geometry of the planet-star encounter is shown in the upper part of the figure.

As the planet swung through its closest approach to the star, the Spitzer observations indicated that it experienced very rapid heating (as shown by the red curve). Just before close approach, the planet was eclipsed by the star as seen from Earth, allowing astronomers to determine the amount of energy coming from the planet in comparison to the amount coming from the star.

The observations were made in Nov. of 2007, using Spitzer's infrared array camera. They represent a significant first for astronomers, opening the door to studying changes in atmospheric conditions of planets far beyond our own solar system.

Provider: Spitzer Space Telescope

Image Source: http://www.spitzer.caltech.edu/images/1980-ssc2009-02a-Exoplanet-HD-80606b-Infrared-Light-Curve

Curator: Spitzer Space Telescope, Pasadena, CA, USA

Image Use Policy: Public Domain

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Image Details

Image Type
Chart
Object Name
HD 80606b
Subject - Milky Way
Planet > Type > Gas Giant
Planet > Special Cases > Transiting
Planet > Special Cases > Hot Jupiter

Distance

Universescale1
58 light years

Color Mapping

  Telescope Spectral Band Wavelength
Spitzer (IRAC) Infrared (Mid-IR) 8.0 µm
Light curve spans 1.2 days of observation
Spectrum_base
Spitzer_ssc2009-02a_1280
×
ID
ssc2009-02a
Subject Category
B.1.1.2.   B.1.3.1.   B.1.3.2  
Subject Name
HD 80606b
Credits
NASA/JPL-Caltech/G. Laughlin (UCD/Lick Observatory)
Release Date
2009-01-28
Lightyears
58
Redshift
58
Reference Url
http://www.spitzer.caltech.edu/images/1980-ssc2009-02a-Exoplanet-HD-80606b-Infrared-Light-Curve
Type
Chart
Image Quality
Good
Distance Notes
Facility
Spitzer
Instrument
IRAC
Color Assignment
Band
Infrared
Bandpass
Mid-IR
Central Wavelength
8000
Start Time
Integration Time
Dataset ID
Notes
L
Coordinate Frame
Equinox
Reference Value
Reference Dimension
Reference Pixel
Scale
Rotation
Coordinate System Projection:
Quality
FITS Header
Notes
Creator (Curator)
Spitzer Space Telescope
URL
http://www.spitzer.caltech.edu
Name
Email
Telephone
Address
1200 E. California Blvd.
City
Pasadena
State/Province
CA
Postal Code
91125
Country
USA
Rights
Public Domain
Publisher
Spitzer Science Center
Publisher ID
spitzer
Resource ID
ssc2009-02a.tif
Metadata Date
2011-09-02
Metadata Version
1.1
×

 

Detailed color mapping information coming soon...

×
Universescalefull
58 light years

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