The phase curve and the geometric albedo of WASP-43b measured with CHEOPS, TESS and HST WFC3/UVIS

TL;DR

This study measures the optical geometric albedo of WASP-43b using CHEOPS, TESS, and HST data, revealing a low albedo and no evidence of reflective clouds, thus informing its atmospheric composition and thermal structure.

Contribution

First combined optical and infrared analysis of WASP-43b's atmosphere, providing new constraints on its albedo and thermal profile using multiple space telescopes.

Findings

Optical phase curve amplitude of 160±60 ppm in CHEOPS data.

Optical albedo upper limit of <0.087 at 99.9% confidence.

Infrared data indicates a non-inverted thermal profile and solar-like metallicity.

Abstract

Observations of the phase curves and secondary eclipses of extrasolar planets provide a window on the composition and thermal structure of the planetary atmospheres. For example, the photometric observations of secondary eclipses lead to the measurement of the planetary geometric albedo $A_g$, which is an indicator of the presence of clouds in the atmosphere. In this work we aim to measure the $A_g$ in the optical domain of WASP-43b, a moderately irradiated giant planet with an equilibrium temperature of $\sim$1400~K. To this purpose, we analyze the secondary eclipse light curves collected by CHEOPS, together with TESS observations of the system and the publicly available photometry obtained with HST WFC3/UVIS. We also analyze the archival infrared observations of the eclipses and retrieve the thermal emission spectrum of the planet. By extrapolating the thermal spectrum to the optical bands, we correct the optical eclipses for thermal emission and derive the optical $A_g$. The fit of the optical data leads to a marginal detection of the phase curve signal, characterized by an amplitude of $160\pm60$~ppm and 80$^{+60}_{-50}$~ppm in the CHEOPS and TESS passband respectively, with an eastward phase shift of $\sim50^\circ$ (1.5$\sigma$ detection). The analysis of the infrared data suggests a non-inverted thermal profile and solar-like metallicity. The combination of optical and infrared analysis allows us to derive an upper limit for the optical albedo of $A_g<0.087$ with a confidence of 99.9\%. Our analysis of the atmosphere of WASP-43b places this planet in the sample of irradiated hot Jupiters, with monotonic temperature-pressure profile and no indication of condensation of reflective clouds on the planetary dayside.