WASP-16b: A new Jupiter-like planet transiting a southern solar analog

TL;DR

This paper reports the discovery of WASP-16b, a Jupiter-like exoplanet transiting a solar analog star with detailed measurements of its and its host star's physical properties.

Contribution

It presents the first detection and characterization of a Jupiter-like planet orbiting a solar analog star using transit and radial velocity data.

Findings

WASP-16b has a radius of approximately 1.008 R_Jup.

WASP-16b has a mass of approximately 0.855 M_Jup.

The host star is a near-solar metallicity solar analog.

Abstract

We report the discovery from WASP-South of a new Jupiter-like extrasolar planet, WASP-16b, which transits its solar analog host star every 3.12 days. Analysis of the transit photometry and radial velocity spectroscopic data leads to a planet with R_p = 1.008+-0.071 R_Jup and M_p =0.855+-0.059 M_Jup, orbiting a host star with R_* = 0.946+-0.054 R_sun and M_* = 1.022+-0.101 M_sun. Comparison of the high resolution stellar spectrum with synthetic spectra and stellar evolution models indicates the host star is a near-solar metallicity ([Fe/H]= 0.01+-0.10) solar analog (Teff = 5700+-150 K, log g= 4.5+-0.2) of intermediate age (Tau = 2.3+5.8-2.2 Gyr).