TEPCat: The Transiting Extrasolar Planet Catalogue

TL;DR

TEPCat is a comprehensive, publicly accessible database compiling detailed physical and orbital data of known transiting exoplanets, aiding research and analysis in planetary science.

Contribution

This work introduces TEPCat, the first extensive, curated database of transiting exoplanets with detailed classifications and example visualizations, enhancing research capabilities.

Findings

Provides high-precision measurements of exoplanet properties

Includes classification of planets and light curve features

Offers example plots for data interpretation

Abstract

Transiting extrasolar planets are extraordinarily valuable for understanding the characteristics and formation of planets, because they are the only exoplanets whose physical and orbital properties can be measured to high precision. Thousands are now known, and it is important to maintain a database of them for use by the scientific community. TEPCat performs this task: it is a critical compilation of the physical and observable properties of the known transiting planetary systems. This work introduces the motivation for TEPCat, its scope, contents, and implementation. Example plots of interesting quantities are constructed. The classification of planets and of the eclipse features in their light curves is discussed. TEPCat is maintained and freely available online at https://www.astro.keele.ac.uk/jkt/tepcat/