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Title: Triple microlens OGLE-2008-BLG-092L: binary stellar system with a circumprimary uranus-type planet

Journal Article · · Astrophysical Journal
;  [1]; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ;  [2];  [3];  [4]
  1. Department of Astronomy, Ohio State University, 140 West 18th Avenue, Columbus, OH 43210 (United States)
  2. Warsaw University Observatory, Al. Ujazdowskie 4, 00-478 Warszawa (Poland)
  3. Department of Physics, Chungbuk National University, Cheongju 371-763 (Korea, Republic of)
  4. Kavli Institute for Astronomy and Astrophysics, Peking University, Yi He Yuan Road 5, Hai Dian District, Beijing 100871 (China)

We present the gravitational microlensing discovery of a 4 M {sub Uranus} planet that orbits a 0.7 M {sub ☉} star at ≈18 AU. This is the first known analog of Uranus. Similar planets, i.e., cold ice giants, are inaccessible to either radial velocity or transit methods because of the long orbital periods, while low reflected light prevents direct imaging. We discuss how similar planets may contaminate the sample of the very short microlensing events that are interpreted as free-floating planets with an estimated rate of 1.8 per main-sequence star. Moreover, the host star has a nearby stellar (or brown dwarf) companion. The projected separation of the planet is only about three times smaller than that of the companion star, suggesting significant dynamical interactions.

OSTI ID:
22370306
Journal Information:
Astrophysical Journal, Vol. 795, Issue 1; Other Information: Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); ISSN 0004-637X
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English