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Discovery of a cool planet of 5.5 Earth masses through gravitational microlensing

Author

Listed:
  • J.-P. Beaulieu

    (PLANET/RoboNet Collaboration
    Université Pierre et Marie Curie UMR7095)

  • D. P. Bennett

    (PLANET/RoboNet Collaboration
    MOA Collaboration
    University of Notre Dame)

  • P. Fouqué

    (PLANET/RoboNet Collaboration
    Université Paul Sabatier—Toulouse 3)

  • A. Williams

    (PLANET/RoboNet Collaboration
    Perth Observatory)

  • M. Dominik

    (PLANET/RoboNet Collaboration
    University of St Andrews, School of Physics and Astronomy)

  • U. G. Jørgensen

    (PLANET/RoboNet Collaboration
    Astronomisk Observatorium)

  • D. Kubas

    (PLANET/RoboNet Collaboration
    European Southern Observatory)

  • A. Cassan

    (PLANET/RoboNet Collaboration
    Université Pierre et Marie Curie UMR7095)

  • C. Coutures

    (PLANET/RoboNet Collaboration
    CEA DAPNIA/SPP Saclay)

  • J. Greenhill

    (PLANET/RoboNet Collaboration
    University of Tasmania, School of Mathematics and Physics)

  • K. Hill

    (PLANET/RoboNet Collaboration
    University of Tasmania, School of Mathematics and Physics)

  • J. Menzies

    (PLANET/RoboNet Collaboration
    South African Astronomical Observatory)

  • P. D. Sackett

    (PLANET/RoboNet Collaboration
    Australian National University, Mt Stromlo Observatory)

  • M. Albrow

    (PLANET/RoboNet Collaboration
    University of Canterbury)

  • S. Brillant

    (PLANET/RoboNet Collaboration
    European Southern Observatory)

  • J. A. R. Caldwell

    (PLANET/RoboNet Collaboration
    McDonald Observatory)

  • J. J. Calitz

    (PLANET/RoboNet Collaboration
    Boyden Observatory, University of the Free State)

  • K. H. Cook

    (PLANET/RoboNet Collaboration
    IGPP)

  • E. Corrales

    (PLANET/RoboNet Collaboration
    Université Pierre et Marie Curie UMR7095)

  • M. Desort

    (PLANET/RoboNet Collaboration
    Université Pierre et Marie Curie UMR7095)

  • S. Dieters

    (PLANET/RoboNet Collaboration
    University of Tasmania, School of Mathematics and Physics)

  • D. Dominis

    (PLANET/RoboNet Collaboration
    Universität Potsdam
    Astrophysikalisches Institut Potsdam)

  • J. Donatowicz

    (PLANET/RoboNet Collaboration
    Technische Universität Wien)

  • M. Hoffman

    (PLANET/RoboNet Collaboration
    Universität Potsdam
    Astrophysikalisches Institut Potsdam)

  • S. Kane

    (PLANET/RoboNet Collaboration
    University of Florida, 211 Bryant Space Science Center)

  • J.-B. Marquette

    (PLANET/RoboNet Collaboration
    Université Pierre et Marie Curie UMR7095)

  • R. Martin

    (PLANET/RoboNet Collaboration
    Perth Observatory)

  • P. Meintjes

    (PLANET/RoboNet Collaboration
    Boyden Observatory, University of the Free State)

  • K. Pollard

    (PLANET/RoboNet Collaboration
    University of Canterbury)

  • K. Sahu

    (PLANET/RoboNet Collaboration
    Space Telescope Science Institute)

  • C. Vinter

    (PLANET/RoboNet Collaboration
    Astronomisk Observatorium)

  • J. Wambsganss

    (PLANET/RoboNet Collaboration
    Universität Heidelberg)

  • K. Woller

    (PLANET/RoboNet Collaboration
    Astronomisk Observatorium)

  • K. Horne

    (PLANET/RoboNet Collaboration
    University of St Andrews, School of Physics and Astronomy)

  • I. Steele

    (PLANET/RoboNet Collaboration
    Liverpool John Moores University, Twelve Quays House)

  • D. M. Bramich

    (PLANET/RoboNet Collaboration
    University of St Andrews, School of Physics and Astronomy
    Liverpool John Moores University, Twelve Quays House)

  • M. Burgdorf

    (PLANET/RoboNet Collaboration
    Liverpool John Moores University, Twelve Quays House)

  • C. Snodgrass

    (PLANET/RoboNet Collaboration
    Queen's University Belfast)

  • M. Bode

    (PLANET/RoboNet Collaboration
    Liverpool John Moores University, Twelve Quays House)

  • A. Udalski

    (OGLE Collaboration
    Obserwatorium Astronomiczne Uniwersytetu Warszawskiego)

  • M. K. Szymański

    (OGLE Collaboration
    Obserwatorium Astronomiczne Uniwersytetu Warszawskiego)

  • M. Kubiak

    (OGLE Collaboration
    Obserwatorium Astronomiczne Uniwersytetu Warszawskiego)

  • T. Wiȩckowski

    (OGLE Collaboration
    Obserwatorium Astronomiczne Uniwersytetu Warszawskiego)

  • G. Pietrzyński

    (OGLE Collaboration
    Obserwatorium Astronomiczne Uniwersytetu Warszawskiego
    Universidad de Concepcion)

  • I. Soszyński

    (OGLE Collaboration
    Obserwatorium Astronomiczne Uniwersytetu Warszawskiego
    Universidad de Concepcion)

  • O. Szewczyk

    (OGLE Collaboration
    Obserwatorium Astronomiczne Uniwersytetu Warszawskiego)

  • Ł. Wyrzykowski

    (OGLE Collaboration
    Obserwatorium Astronomiczne Uniwersytetu Warszawskiego
    The University of Manchester)

  • B. Paczyński

    (OGLE Collaboration
    Princeton University Observatory)

  • F. Abe

    (MOA Collaboration
    Nagoya University)

  • I. A. Bond

    (MOA Collaboration
    Massey University)

  • T. R. Britton

    (MOA Collaboration
    University of Canterbury
    University of Auckland)

  • A. C. Gilmore

    (MOA Collaboration
    University of Canterbury)

  • J. B. Hearnshaw

    (MOA Collaboration
    University of Canterbury)

  • Y. Itow

    (MOA Collaboration
    Nagoya University)

  • K. Kamiya

    (MOA Collaboration
    Nagoya University)

  • P. M. Kilmartin

    (MOA Collaboration
    University of Canterbury)

  • A. V. Korpela

    (MOA Collaboration
    Victoria University)

  • K. Masuda

    (MOA Collaboration
    Nagoya University)

  • Y. Matsubara

    (MOA Collaboration
    Nagoya University)

  • M. Motomura

    (MOA Collaboration
    Nagoya University)

  • Y. Muraki

    (MOA Collaboration
    Nagoya University)

  • S. Nakamura

    (MOA Collaboration
    Nagoya University)

  • C. Okada

    (MOA Collaboration
    Nagoya University)

  • K. Ohnishi

    (MOA Collaboration
    Nagano National College of Technology)

  • N. J. Rattenbury

    (MOA Collaboration
    The University of Manchester)

  • T. Sako

    (MOA Collaboration
    Nagoya University)

  • S. Sato

    (MOA Collaboration
    Nagoya University)

  • M. Sasaki

    (MOA Collaboration
    Nagoya University)

  • T. Sekiguchi

    (MOA Collaboration
    Nagoya University)

  • D. J. Sullivan

    (MOA Collaboration
    Victoria University)

  • P. J. Tristram

    (MOA Collaboration
    University of Auckland)

  • P. C. M. Yock

    (MOA Collaboration
    University of Auckland)

  • T. Yoshioka

    (MOA Collaboration
    Nagoya University)

Abstract

Found worlds Over 170 extrasolar planets have so far been discovered, with a wide range of masses and orbital periods, but until last July no planet of Neptune's mass or less had been detected any more than 0.15 astronomical units (AU) from a normal star. (That's close — Earth is one AU from the Sun). On 11 July 2005 the OGLE Early Warning System recorded a notable event: gravitational lensing of light from a distant object by a foreground star revealed a small planet of about 5.5 Earth masses, orbiting at about 2.6 AU from the foreground star. This is the lowest known mass for an extrasolar planet orbiting a main sequence star, and its detection suggests that cool, sub-Neptune mass planets are more common than gas giants, as predicted by the favoured core accretion theory of planet formation.

Suggested Citation

  • J.-P. Beaulieu & D. P. Bennett & P. Fouqué & A. Williams & M. Dominik & U. G. Jørgensen & D. Kubas & A. Cassan & C. Coutures & J. Greenhill & K. Hill & J. Menzies & P. D. Sackett & M. Albrow & S. Bril, 2006. "Discovery of a cool planet of 5.5 Earth masses through gravitational microlensing," Nature, Nature, vol. 439(7075), pages 437-440, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:nature:v:439:y:2006:i:7075:d:10.1038_nature04441
    DOI: 10.1038/nature04441
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