Cited by 209Stellar, planetary, and galactic studiesAstro and Planetary ScienceAstronomy and Astrophysical Research

WASP-17b: AN ULTRA-LOW DENSITY PLANET IN A PROBABLE RETROGRADE ORBIT

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Anderson, D. R., Hellier, C., Gillon, M., Triaud, A. H. M. J., Smalley, B., Hebb, L., Cameron, A. Collier, Maxted, P. F. L. +13 more·2010·The Astrophysical Journal

Abstract

We report the discovery of the transiting giant planet WASP-17b, the least-dense planet currently known. It is 1.6 Saturn masses, but 1.5–2 Jupiter radii, giving a density of 6%–14% that of Jupiter. WASP-17b is in a 3.7 day orbit around a sub-solar metallicity, V = 11.6, F6 star. Preliminary detection of the Rossiter–McLaughlin effect suggests that WASP-17b is in a retrograde orbit (λ ≈ −150°), indicative of a violent history involving planet–planet or star–planet scattering. WASP-17b's bloated radius could be due to tidal heating resulting from recent or ongoing tidal circularization of an eccentric orbit, such as the highly eccentric orbits that typically result from scattering interactions. It will thus be important to determine more precisely the current orbital eccentricity by further high-precision radial velocity measurements or by timing the secondary eclipse, both to reduce the uncertainty on the planet's radius and to test tidal-heating models. Owing to its low surface gravity, WASP-17b's atmosphere has the largest scale height of any known planet, making it a good target for transmission spectroscopy.

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  • Extrasolar planets have been detected with orbital axes inclined by more than 90 degrees with respect to their star's rotation axis, for example WASP-17b.

    “Extrasolar planets have been detected with their orbital axes inclined by more than 90 degrees with respect to their star's rotation axis (e.g.WASP-17b; Anderson et al. 2010).”

    From Constraints on the size and dynamics of the J1407b ring system (2016) · cites this paper as Anderson et al. 2010

    Section 4.1 reports a sky-projected spin–orbit angle of approximately −150°, indicating that WASP-17b may orbit counter to its star’s rotation. The paper calls the orbit probably retrograde, rather than establishing the unqualified three-dimensional inclination of more than 90° stated in the claim. (LLM, conf=0.82)

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Authors
Anderson, D. R., Hellier, C., Gillon, M., Triaud, A. H. M. J., Smalley, B., Hebb, L., Cameron, A. C., Maxted, P. F. L., Queloz, D., West, R. G., Bentley, S. J., Enoch, B., Horne, K., Lister, T. A., Mayor, M., Parley, N. R., Pepe, F., Pollacco, D., Ségransan, D., Udry, S., & Wilson, D. M.
Affiliations
  • Keele University (GB)
  • University of Geneva (CH)
  • University of St Andrews (GB)
  • University of Leicester (GB)
  • Las Cumbres Observatory Global Telescope Network (US)
  • Queen's University Belfast (GB)
  • University of Kent (GB)
Venue
The Astrophysical Journal
Published
2009-12-29
Volume
709
Issue
1
Pages
159-167
ISSN
  • 0004-637X (ISSN-L)
  • 1538-4357
OpenAlex
W2137800231
Cited by
208
References
89
Citations by year
2026: 5 · 2025: 5 · 2024: 6 · 2023: 8 · 2022: 10 · 2021: 1 · 2020: 3 · 2019: 6 · 2018: 9 · 2017: 8 · 2016: 15 · 2015: 6 · 2014: 4 · 2013: 12 · 2012: 27
FWCI
18.46
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • The Astrophysical Journal (publishedVersion)
  • University of Birmingham Research Portal (University of Birmingham) (publishedVersion)
  • arXiv (Cornell University) (submittedVersion)
  • ORBi (University of Liège) (submittedVersion, other-oa)
  • Leicester Research Archive (University of Leicester) (submittedVersion)
  • Research Portal (Queen's University Belfast) (submittedVersion)
  • arXiv (Cornell University)
Funders
  • Queen's University Belfast
  • Queen's University
  • Science and Technology Facilities Council (PP/F000081/1, ST/I002308/1, PP/F000065/1, PP/F000057/1, PP/F000073/1, PP/D000955/1, ST/G002355/1, ST/G001987/1)
Topics
  • Physical Sciences › Physics and Astronomy › Astronomy and Astrophysics › Stellar, planetary, and galactic studies
  • Physical Sciences › Physics and Astronomy › Astronomy and Astrophysics › Astro and Planetary Science
  • Physical Sciences › Physics and Astronomy › Instrumentation › Astronomy and Astrophysical Research
Keywords
WASP-17b, transiting exoplanets, retrograde orbits, Rossiter-McLaughlin effect, planet-planet scattering, tidal heating, orbital eccentricity, tidal circularization, transmission spectroscopy, atmospheric scale height, low surface gravity, hot Jupiters

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