Possible Transit Timing Variations of the TrES-3 Planetary System

TL;DR

This study analyzes 23 transit light curves of TrES-3 over 911 epochs to investigate potential transit timing variations, finding no definitive evidence but suggesting future observations are crucial.

Contribution

It combines new and existing data to analyze transit timing variations in the TrES-3 system, highlighting the need for further observations and dynamical studies.

Findings

No significant transit timing variations detected.

A 1-frequency oscillating model fits data better.

Future observations are essential for confirmation.

Abstract

Five newly observed transit light curves of the TrES-3 planetary system are presented. Together with other light curve data from literature, 23 transit light curves in total, which cover an overall timescale of 911 epochs, have been analyzed through a standard procedure. From these observational data, the system's orbital parameters are determined and possible transit timing variations are investigated. Given that a null transit-timing-variation produces a fit with reduced chi^2=1.52, our results agree with previous work, that transit timing variations might not exist in these data. However, a 1-frequency oscillating transit-timing-variation model, giving a fit with a reduced chi^2=0.93, does possess a statistically higher probability. It is, thus, concluded that future observations and dynamical simulations for this planetary system will be very important.