Mass loss from the exoplanetWASP-12b inferred from Spitzer phase curves

Taylor J. Bell, Michael Zhang, Patricio E. Cubillos, Lisa Dang, Luca Fossati, Kamen O. Todorov, Nicolas B. Cowan, Drake Deming, Robert T. Zellem, Kevin B. Stevenson, Ian J.M. Crossfield, Ian Dobbs-Dixon, Jonathan J. Fortney, Heather A. Knutson, Michael R. Line

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

41 Scopus citations

Abstract

The exoplanet WASP-12b is the prototype for the emerging class of ultrahot, Jupiter-mass exoplanets. Past models have predicted - and near-ultraviolet observations have shown - that this planet is losing mass. We present an analysis of two sets of 3.6 and 4.5 μm Spitzer phase curve observations of the system which show clear evidence of infrared radiation from gas stripped from the planet, and the gas appears to be flowing directly toward or away from the host star. This accretion signature is only seen at 4.5 μm, not at 3.6 μm, which is indicative either of CO emission at the longer wavelength or blackbody emission from cool, ≲600 K gas. It is unclear why WASP-12b is the only ultrahot Jupiter to exhibit this mass-loss signature, but perhaps WASP-12b's orbit is decaying as some have claimed, while the orbits of other exoplanets may be more stable; alternatively, the high-energy irradiation from WASP-12A may be stronger than the other host stars. We also find evidence for phase offset variability at the level of 6.4σ (46.2°) at 3.6 μm.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)1995-2013
Number of pages19
JournalMonthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Volume489
Issue number2
DOIs
StatePublished - Oct 21 2019

Keywords

  • Accretion
  • Accretion discs
  • Planet-star interactions
  • Planets and satellites: Individual (WASP-12b)
  • Techniques: Photometric

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Astronomy and Astrophysics
  • Space and Planetary Science

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