Cyclic Transit Probabilities of Long-Period Eccentric Planets Due to Periastron Precession

Abstract

The observed properties of transiting exoplanets are an exceptionally rich source of information that allows us to understand and characterize their physical properties. Unfortunately, only a relatively small fraction of the known exoplanets discovered using the radial velocity technique are known to transit their host, due to the stringent orbital geometry requirements. For each target, the transit probability and predicted transit time can be calculated to great accuracy with refinement of the orbital parameters. However, the transit probability of short period and eccentric orbits can have a reasonable time dependence due to the effects of apsidal and nodal precession, thus altering their transit potential and predicted transit time. Here we investigate the magnitude of these precession effects on transit probabilities and apply this to the known radial velocity exoplanets. We assess the refinement of orbital parameters as a path to measuring these precessions and cyclic transit probabilities.

6 pages, 4 figures, accepted for publication in ApJ, fixed references

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Cited by in corpus (12)

• Orbital Dynamics of Multi-Planet Systems with Eccentricity Diversity
• Detectability of Earth-like Planets in Circumstellar Habitable Zones of Binary Star Systems with Sun-like Components
• Novel constraints on fifth forces and ultralight dark sector with asteroidal data
• Orbital Stability and Precession Effects in the Kepler-89 System
• Frame-Dragging in Extrasolar Circumbinary Planetary Systems
• When the anomalistic, draconitic and sidereal orbital periods do not coincide: the impact of post-Keplerian perturbing accelerations
• Stability of planetary, single M dwarf, and binary star companions to Kepler detached eclipsing binaries and a possible five body system
• The HD 217107 Planetary System: Twenty Years of Radial Velocity Measurements
• Exoplanet Nodal Precession Induced by Rapidly Rotating Stars: Impacts on Transit Probabilities and Biases
• The Observational Effects and Signatures of Tidally Distorted Solid Exoplanets
• Potential sublimating exocomets around the young star PDS 70
• The Influence of General Relativity on the Spins of Celestial Bodies in Inclined Orbits