Detection of period variations in extrasolar transiting planet OGLE-TR-111b

TL;DR

This study analyzes transit timing variations of exoplanet OGLE-TR-111b, suggesting potential perturbations by an Earth-mass planet in an eccentric orbit, challenging the assumption of a constant orbital period.

Contribution

It presents evidence for non-constant transit timings and proposes a possible explanation involving an external Earth-mass planet, considering eccentric orbital configurations.

Findings

Transit timings vary and cannot be explained by a constant period.

A perturbing Earth-mass planet in an eccentric orbit could account for the variations.

Radial velocity data do not exclude the eccentric orbit hypothesis.

Abstract

Two consecutive transits of planetary companion OGLE-TR-111b were observed in the I band. Combining these observations with data from the literature, we find that the timing of the transits cannot be explained by a constant period, and that the observed variations cannot be originated by the presence of a satellite. However, a perturbing planet with the mass of the Earth in an exterior orbit could explain the observations if the orbit of OGLE-TR-111b is eccentric. We also show that the eccentricity needed to explain the observations is not ruled out by the radial velocity data found in the literature.