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The Extrasolar Planet epsilon Eridani b: Orbit and Mass*

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G. Fritz Benedict1, Barbara E. McArthur1, George Gatewood2, Edmund Nelan3, William D. Cochran1, Artie Hatzes4, Michael Endl1, Robert Wittenmyer1, Sallie L. Baliunas5, Gordon A. H. Walker6, Stephenson Yang6, Martin Kürster7, Sebastian Els8 and Diane B. Paulson9

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Hubble Space Telescope (HST) observations of the nearby (3.22 pc) K2 V star epsilon Eridani have been combined with ground-based astrometric and radial velocity data to determine the mass of its known companion. We model the astrometric and radial velocity measurements simultaneously to obtain the parallax, proper motion, perturbation period, perturbation inclination, and perturbation size. Because of the long period of the companion, epsilon Eri b, we extend our astrometric coverage to a total of 14.94 yr (including the 3 yr span of the HST data) by including lower precision ground-based astrometry from the Allegheny Multichannel Astrometric Photometer. Radial velocities now span 1980.8-2006.3. We obtain a perturbation period, P = 6.85 ± 0.03 yr, semimajor axis α = 1.88 ± 0.20 mas, and inclination i = 30fdg1 ± 3fdg8. This inclination is consistent with a previously measured dust disk inclination, suggesting coplanarity. Assuming a primary mass M* = 0.83 Modot, we obtain a companion mass M = 1.55MJ ± 0.24MJ. Given the relatively young age of epsilon Eri (~800 Myr), this accurate exoplanet mass and orbit can usefully inform future direct-imaging attempts. We predict the next periastron at 2007.3 with a total separation ρ = 0farcs3 at position angle P.A. = -27°. Orbit orientation and geometry dictate that epsilon Eri b will appear brightest in reflected light very nearly at periastron. Radial velocities spanning over 25 yr indicate an acceleration consistent with a Jupiter-mass object with a period in excess of 50 yr, possibly responsible for one feature of the dust morphology, the inner cavity.


Footnote
*  Based on observations made with the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope, obtained at the Space Telescope Science Institute, which is operated by the Association of Universities for Research in Astronomy, Inc., under NASA contract NAS5-26555.
Keywords

astrometry; stars: distances; stars: individual (ε Eridani b); stars: late-type; techniques: interferometric; techniques: radial velocities


Dates

Issue 5 (2006 November)

Received 2006 February 13, accepted for publication 2006 August 6

Published 2006 October 11



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