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arXiv · 1210.3045

TASTE. III. A homogeneous study of transit time variations in WASP-3b

V. Nascimbeni·A. Cunial·S. Murabito·P. V. Sada·A. Aparicio·G. Piotto·L. R. Bedin·A. P. Milone·A. Rosenberg·L. Borsato·M. Damasso·V. Granata·L. Malavolta
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Abstract

The TASTE project is searching for low-mass planets with the Transit Timing Variation (TTV) technique, by gathering high-precision, short-cadence light curves for a selected sample of transiting exoplanets. It has been claimed that the "hot Jupiter" WASP-3b could be perturbed by a second planet. Presenting eleven new light curves (secured at the IAC80 and UDEM telescopes) and re-analyzing thirty-eight archival light curves in a homogeneous way, we show that new data do not confirm the previously claimed TTV signal. However, we bring evidence that measurements are not consistent with a constant orbital period, though no significant periodicity can be detected. Additional dynamical modeling and follow-up observations are planned to constrain the properties of the perturber or to put upper limits to it. We provide a refined ephemeris for WASP-3b and improved orbital/physical parameters. A contact eclipsing binary, serendipitously discovered among field stars, is reported here for the first time.

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V. Nascimbeni, A. Cunial, S. Murabito, P. V. Sada, A. Aparicio, G. Piotto, L. R. Bedin, A. P. Milone, A. Rosenberg, L. Borsato, M. Damasso, V. Granata, L. Malavolta. 2012-10-10. TASTE. III. A homogeneous study of transit time variations in WASP-3b. https://doi.org/10.1051/0004-6361/201219601

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