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Project Progress

Drake Deming and collaborators expanded their direct detection of “hot Jupiter” planets orbiting other stars. They detect extrasolar planets using the Spitzer Space Telescope to observe variations in the total infrared light of planet-hosting stars, phased to the orbit of the planet. In the most favorable cases, where the planet transits the star, Spitzer can detect the secondary eclipse, wherein the planet disappears behind the star and reappears. In November 2005, they observed radiation at 16 microns wavelength from the new transiting giant planet orbiting HD 189733. The secondary eclipse observed in this system (see Figure) represents the strongest and clearest direct detection of an extrasolar planet ever made. Their results were recently published in the Astrophysical Journal (Deming et al. 2006). Although these hot Jupiter planets are not expected to provide habitable environments, Deming is working – in collaboration with Sara Seager of the Carnegie Node – to extend the Spitzer detections to habitable “Super-Earths”.

“Strong Infrared Emission from the Extrasolar Planet HD 189733b” 2006,
Deming, D., Harrington, J., Seager, S., and Richardson, L. J., ApJ 664, 560.

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