A Super-Earth Transiting a Naked-Eye Star

TL;DR

This paper reports the first detection of transits of a super-Earth orbiting a bright, naked-eye star, providing detailed planetary parameters and revealing unexpected photometric signals.

Contribution

First detection of a transiting super-Earth around a bright star, with detailed characterization and analysis of unusual phase-related signals.

Findings

Planet's mass: 8.63 +/- 0.35 Mearth

Planet's radius: 2.00 +/- 0.14 Rearth

Unusual sinusoidal phase signal detected

Abstract

We have detected transits of the innermost planet "e" orbiting 55 Cnc (V=6.0), based on two weeks of nearly continuous photometric monitoring with the MOST space telescope. The transits occur with the period (0.74 d) and phase that had been predicted by Dawson & Fabrycky, and with the expected duration and depth for the crossing of a Sun-like star by a hot super-Earth. Assuming the star's mass and radius to be 0.963_{-0.029}^{+0.051} M_sun and 0.943 +/- 0.010 R_sun, the planet's mass, radius, and mean density are 8.63 +/- 0.35 Mearth, 2.00 +/- 0.14 Rearth, and 5.9_{-1.1}^{+1.5} g/cm^3. The mean density is comparable to that of Earth, despite the greater mass and consequently greater compression of the interior of 55 Cnc e. This suggests a rock-iron composition supplemented by a significant mass of water, gas, or other light elements. Outside of transits, we detected a sinusoidal signal resembling the expected signal due to the changing illuminated phase of the planet, but with a full range (168 +/- 70 ppm) too large to be reflected light or thermal emission. This signal has no straightforward interpretation and should be checked with further observations. The host star of 55 Cnc e is brighter than that of any other known transiting planet, which will facilitate future investigations.