Using the Inclinations of Kepler Systems to Prioritize New Titius-Bode-Based Exoplanet Predictions

TL;DR

This paper uses a generalized Titius-Bode relation to predict additional exoplanets in Kepler multiple systems, prioritizing them based on transit probability, and estimates a higher detection rate for these predicted planets.

Contribution

It introduces a generalized Titius-Bode relation for predicting exoplanets and incorporates inclination estimates to prioritize high-probability transiting planets.

Findings

Predicted 228 new planets in Kepler systems.

Estimated ~2 habitable zone planets per star.

Achieved a 15% detection probability for prioritized planets.

Abstract

We analyze a sample of multiple-exoplanet systems which contain at least 3 transiting planets detected by the Kepler mission ("Kepler multiples"). We use a generalized Titius-Bode relation to predict the periods of 228 additional planets in 151 of these Kepler multiples. These Titius-Bode-based predictions suggest that there are, on average, ~2 planets in the habitable zone of each star. We estimate the inclination of the invariable plane for each system and prioritize our planet predictions by their geometric probability to transit. We highlight a short list of 77 predicted planets in 40 systems with a high geometric probability to transit, resulting in an expected detection rate of ~15%, ~3 times higher than the detection rate of our previous Titius-Bode-based predictions.