System Geometries and Transit / Eclipse Probabilities

TL;DR

This paper explores how the geometries of exoplanet systems influence transit and eclipse probabilities, informing observational strategies for detecting transits of long-period, eccentric exoplanets.

Contribution

It provides a detailed analysis of transit and eclipse probabilities based on system geometries, aiding in the design of targeted exoplanet observation surveys.

Findings

Transit probabilities depend on orbital eccentricity and orientation.

Eclipse probabilities are linked to system geometry and orbital parameters.

Strategies for selecting targets improve detection chances for long-period exoplanets.

Abstract

Transiting exoplanets provide access to data to study the mass-radius relation and internal structure of extrasolar planets. Long-period transiting planets allow insight into planetary environments similar to the Solar System where, in contrast to hot Jupiters, planets are not constantly exposed to the intense radiation of their parent stars. Observations of secondary eclipses additionally permit studies of exoplanet temperatures and large-scale exo-atmospheric properties. We show how transit and eclipse probabilities are related to planet-star system geometries, particularly for long-period, eccentric orbits. The resulting target selection and observational strategies represent the principal ingredients of our photometric survey of known radial-velocity planets with the aim of detecting transit signatures (TERMS).