A Neptune-mass planet orbiting the nearby G dwarf HD 16417

O'Toole, Simon and Tinney, C. G. and Butler, R. Paul and Jones, Hugh R. A. and Bailey, Jeremy and Carter, Brad D. and Vogt, Steven S. and Laughlin, Gregory and Rivera, Eugenio J. (2009) A Neptune-mass planet orbiting the nearby G dwarf HD 16417. The Astrophysical Journal, 697 (2). pp. 1263-1268. ISSN 0004-637X

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Abstract

Precision Doppler measurements from an intensive 48 night 'Rocky Planet Search' observing campaign on the Anglo-Australian Telescope (AAT) have revealed the presence of a low-mass exoplanet orbiting the G1 dwarf HD16417. Subsequent Doppler observations with the AAT, as well as independent observations obtained by the Keck Planet Search, have confirmed this initial detection and refine the orbital parameters to period 17.24+/-0.01 d, eccentricity 0.20+/-0.09, orbital semi-major axis 0.14+/-0.01 AU and minimum planet mass 22.1+/-2.0 Mearth. HD 16417 raises the number of published exoplanets with minimum masses of less than 25 Mearth to eighteen. Interestingly, the distribution of detected sub-25 Mearth planets over the spectral types G, K and M is almost uniform. The detection of HD 16417b by an intensive observing campaign clearly demonstrates the need for extended and contiguous observing campaigns when aiming to detect low-amplitude Doppler planets in short period orbits. Perhaps most critically it demonstrates that the search for low-mass Doppler planets will eventually require these traditional 'bright-time' projects to extend throughout dark lunations.

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Item Type:	Article (Commonwealth Reporting Category C)
Refereed:	Yes
Item Status:	Live Archive
Additional Information:	Published version made accessible, in accordance with the copyright policy of the publisher.
Faculty / Department / School:	Historic - Faculty of Sciences - Department of Biological and Physical Sciences
Date Deposited:	17 Feb 2010 03:01
Last Modified:	24 Mar 2017 03:08
Uncontrolled Keywords:	planetary systems; stars; individual: HD 16417
Fields of Research :	02 Physical Sciences > 0201 Astronomical and Space Sciences > 020110 Stellar Astronomy and Planetary Systems 02 Physical Sciences > 0201 Astronomical and Space Sciences > 020108 Planetary Science (excl. Extraterrestrial Geology)
Socio-Economic Objective:	E Expanding Knowledge > 97 Expanding Knowledge > 970102 Expanding Knowledge in the Physical Sciences
Identification Number or DOI:	10.1088/0004-637X/697/2/1263
URI:	http://eprints.usq.edu.au/id/eprint/5769

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