KELT-2Ab is an extrasolar planet that orbits the star KELT-2A approximately 440 light-years away in the constellation of Auriga.[1] It was discovered by the KELT-North survey via the transit method, so both its mass and radius are known quite precisely. As of its discovery KELT-2Ab is the fifth-brightest transiting Hot Jupiter known that has a well constrained mass. This makes the KELT-2A system a promising target for future space- and ground-based follow-up observations to learn about the planet's atmosphere.[3]
| Discovery | |
|---|---|
| Discovered by | KELT-North |
| Discovery date | 7 June 2012 |
Detection method | Transit |
| Orbital characteristics | |
Semi-major axis | 0.5504 ± 0.00086 AU (82,339,000 ± 129,000 km) |
| Eccentricity | 0 |
Orbital period (sidereal) | 4.1137913 ± 0.00001 d |
| Inclination | 88.56 ± 1.14 |
Time of periastron | 2455974.60338 ± 0.00083 |
Argument of periastron | 90 |
| Semi-amplitude | 161.1 ± 7.8 |
| Star | KELT-2A |
| Physical characteristics | |
Mean radius | 1.290 ± 0.057[1] RJ |
| Mass | 1.524 ± 0.088[1] MJ |
Mean density | 940 ± 90 kg/m3 (1,580 ± 150 lb/cu yd)[1] |
Surface gravity | 22.7 m/s2 (74 ft/s2) 2.3 g |
| Temperature | 1994±104 K or 1782±111 K[2] |
The water vapour was detected in planetary atmosphere in 2018.[4]
The star KELT-2A is a member of the common-proper-motion binary star system KELT-2 (HD 42176). KELT-2B is an early K dwarf approximately 295 astronomical units away.
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