Searching for transit timing variations in transiting exoplanet systems

TL;DR

This study conducted transit timing variation searches for exoplanets TrES-1 and WASP-2 using new observations and MCMC analysis, finding no evidence of additional bodies in these systems.

Contribution

First to perform detailed TTV searches on TrES-1 and WASP-2 with new observations and MCMC analysis.

Findings

Transit times consistent with existing ephemerides

No conclusive evidence of additional bodies

Observed three transits for TrES-1 and one for WASP-2

Abstract

Searching for transit timing variations in the known transiting exoplanet systems can reveal the presence of other bodies in the system. Here we report such searches for two transiting exoplanet systems, TrES-1 and WASP-2. Their new transits were observed with the 4.2m William Herschel Telescope located on La Palma, Spain. In a continuing programme, three consecutive transits were observed for TrES-1, and one for WASP-2 during September 2007. We used the Markov Chain Monte Carlo simulations to derive transit times and their uncertainties. The resulting transit times are consistent with the most recent ephemerides and no conclusive proof of additional bodies in either system was found.