Year: 2012
Type: article
Abstract: The potential existence of a giant planet orbiting within a few au of a stellar remnant has profound implications for both the survival and possible regeneration of planets during post-main-sequence stellar evolution. This paper reports Hubble Space Telescope Fine Guidance Sensor and US Naval Observatory relative astrometry of GD 66, a white dwarf thought to harbour a giant planet between 2 and 3 au based on stellar pulsation arrival times. Combined with existing infrared data, the precision measurements here rule out all stellar-mass and brown dwarf companions, implying that only a planet remains plausible, if orbital motion is indeed the cause of the variations in pulsation timing.
Authors: J. Farihi, J. P. Subasavage, E. P. Nelan, H. C. Harris, C. C. Dahn, J. Nordhaus, D. S. Spiegel
Language: English
Subfield: Astronomy and Astrophysics
Field: Physics and Astronomy
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: bronze
OpenAlex ID: W2117464382