Multi-band, Multi-epoch Observations of the Transiting Warm Jupiter WASP-80b

TL;DR

This study presents multi-band, multi-epoch transit observations of WASP-80b, revealing atmospheric features consistent with cloudy or hazy models, and finds no significant transit timing variations or stellar activity, enhancing understanding of warm Jupiter atmospheres.

Contribution

It provides the first comprehensive multi-band, multi-epoch transit data for WASP-80b, constraining atmospheric composition and cloud/haze presence with improved observational evidence.

Findings

Transmission spectrum consistent with cloudy or hazy atmosphere models

Marginal optical spectral rise suggests possible haze presence

No significant transit timing variations or stellar activity detected

Abstract

WASP-80b is a warm Jupiter transiting a bright late-K/early-M dwarf, providing a good opportunity to extend the atmospheric study of hot Jupiters toward the lower temperature regime. We report multi-band, multi-epoch transit observations of WASP-80b by using three ground-based telescopes covering from optical (g', Rc, and Ic bands) to near-infrared (NIR; J, H, and Ks bands) wavelengths. We observe 5 primary transits, each of which in 3 or 4 different bands simultaneously, obtaining 17 independent transit light curves. Combining them with results from previous works, we find that the observed transmission spectrum is largely consistent with both a solar abundance and thick cloud atmospheric models at 1.7$\sigma$ discrepancy level. On the other hand, we find a marginal spectral rise in optical region compared to the NIR region at 2.9$\sigma$ level, which possibly indicates the existence of haze in the atmosphere. We simulate theoretical transmission spectra for a solar abundance but hazy atmosphere, finding that a model with equilibrium temperature of 600 K can explain the observed data well, having a discrepancy level of 1.0$\sigma$. We also search for transit timing variations, but find no timing excess larger than 50 s from a linear ephemeris. In addition, we conduct 43 day long photometric monitoring of the host star in the optical bands, finding no significant variation in the stellar brightness. Combined with the fact that no spot-crossing event is observed in the five transits, our results confirm previous findings that the host star appears quiet for spot activities, despite the indications of strong chromospheric activities.