Carbon and oxygen in the spectrum of HR 8799c

Q. M. Konopacky, T. S. Barman, B. A. Macintosh, C. Marois

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contribution

1 Scopus citations

Abstract

The field of exoplanet spectroscopy has grown tremendously in the last decade. With the discovery of gas giant planets at wide separations from their host stars via direct imaging, it is now possible to obtain exoplanet spectra with unprecedented spectral resolution. We present a medium resolution spectrum of the directly imaged exoplanet HR 8799c. This K-band spectrum was obtained using the integral field spectrograph OSIRIS on the Keck II telescope. Our spectrum shows numerous, well-resolved molecular lines from water and carbon monoxide (CO). There is no clear evidence for methane absorption, in spite of a best fit temperature of ~1100 K. We find a best fit surface gravity log(g) ~ 4.0, consistent with the inferred young age for the system (~30 Myr), and a continuum morphology consistent with previously-inferred dust clouds. Using the water and CO lines, we are able to estimate the C/O ratio for this planet. We find a ratio slightly higher than stellar (~0.65), which provides hints about the planet's formation.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Title of host publicationExploring the Formation and Evolution of Planetary Systems
PublisherCambridge University Press
Pages297-298
Number of pages2
EditionS299
ISBN (Print)9781107045200
DOIs
StatePublished - Jun 2013
Externally publishedYes

Publication series

NameProceedings of the International Astronomical Union
NumberS299
Volume8
ISSN (Print)1743-9213
ISSN (Electronic)1743-9221

Keywords

  • Planetary systems: formation
  • Techniques: spectroscopic

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Medicine (miscellaneous)
  • Astronomy and Astrophysics
  • Nutrition and Dietetics
  • Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health
  • Space and Planetary Science

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