A Super-Earth Transiting a Naked-Eye Star
Joshua N. Winn, Jaymie M. Matthews, Rebekah I. Dawson, Daniel, Fabrycky, Matthew J. Holman, Thomas Kallinger, Rainer Kuschnig, Dimitar, Sasselov, Diana Dragomir, David B. Guenther, Anthony F.J. Moffat, Jason F., Rowe, Slavek Rucinski, Werner W. Weiss

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…
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