G. Fritz Benedict et al. 2006 The Astronomical Journal 132 2206 doi:10.1086/508323
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
Show affiliationsHubble Space Telescope (HST) observations of the nearby (3.22 pc) K2 V star
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,
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 = 30
1 ± 3
8. This inclination is consistent with a previously measured dust disk inclination, suggesting coplanarity. Assuming a primary mass M* = 0.83 M
, we obtain a companion mass M = 1.55MJ ± 0.24MJ. Given the relatively young age of
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 = 0
3 at position angle P.A. = -27°. Orbit orientation and geometry dictate that
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.
astrometry; stars: distances; stars: individual (ε Eridani b); stars: late-type; techniques: interferometric; techniques: radial velocities
Issue 5 (2006 November)
Received 2006 February 13, accepted for publication 2006 August 6
Published 2006 October 11
G. Fritz Benedict et al. 2006 The Astronomical Journal 132 2206
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