Abstract

Rounding Up the Misfit: Full-Orbit Phase Curve of CoRoT-2b

Lisa Dang (McGill University - IREx)

The James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) will provide unprecedented observations of exoplanet transits, eclipses, and phase curves. The data reduction and analysis of data from the Spitzer Space Telescope can guide future efforts with JWST. In particular, we report continuous full-orbit monitoring of the CoRoT-2b system with Spitzer/IRAC at 4.5 micron. The dayside emission spectrum of this transiting hot Jupiter exhibits by far the strongest broadband spectral feature of all short−period planets, and is poorly fit by both radiative transfer and spectral retrieval models. Furthermore, the abnormally deep eclipse depth at 4.5 microns could not fit any atmospheric models, even in the absence of CO absorption. Our full-orbit observations of CoRoT-2b allows us to (1) determine its Bond albedo, (2) quantify day-night heat transport, (3) further constrain its atmospheric opacity via transit spectroscopy, and (4) discriminate between astrophysical and atmospheric scenarios for its inscrutable eclipse spectra. Misfits often provide the most leverage for understanding phenomena.

Mode of presentation: poster