Observations of Extrasolar Planets During the non-Cryogenic Spitzer Space Telescope Mission

TL;DR

This paper discusses how the Spitzer Space Telescope has enabled groundbreaking infrared observations of extrasolar planets, including temperature mapping, atmospheric spectra, and precise measurements of transiting planets, advancing exoplanet characterization.

Contribution

It reports the first direct infrared studies of exoplanet light, including temperature maps and atmospheric spectra, and highlights Spitzer's capabilities for future exoplanet research.

Findings

First longitudinal temperature map of an exoplanet

First spectra of exoplanet atmospheres

Precise radius and temperature measurements of transiting planets

Abstract

Precision infrared photometry from Spitzer has enabled the first direct studies of light from extrasolar planets, via observations at secondary eclipse in transiting systems. Current Spitzer results include the first longitudinal temperature map of an extrasolar planet, and the first spectra of their atmospheres. Spitzer has also measured a temperature and precise radius for the first transiting Neptune-sized exoplanet, and is beginning to make precise transit timing measurements to infer the existence of unseen low mass planets. The lack of stellar limb darkening in the infrared facilitates precise radius and transit timing measurements of transiting planets. Warm Spitzer will be capable of a precise radius measurement for Earth-sized planets transiting nearby M-dwarfs, thereby constraining their bulk composition. It will continue to measure thermal emission at secondary eclipse for transiting hot Jupiters, and be able to distinguish between planets having broad band emission versus absorption spectra. It will also be able to measure the orbital phase variation of thermal emission for close-in planets, even non-transiting planets, and these measurements will be of special interest for planets in eccentric orbits. Warm Spitzer will be a significant complement to Kepler, particularly as regards transit timing in the Kepler field. In addition to studying close-in planets, Warm Spitzer will have significant application in sensitive imaging searches for young planets at relatively large angular separations from their parent stars.