WASP-104b is Darker than Charcoal

Abstract

By analysing the K2 short-cadence data from Campaign 14 we detect phase-curve modulation in the light curve of the hot-Jupiter host star WASP-104. The ellipsoidal modulation is detected with high significance and in agreement with theoretical expectations, while Doppler beaming and reflection modulations are detected tentatively. We show that the visual geometric albedo is lower than 0.03 at 95% confidence, making it one of the least-reflective planets found to date. The light curve also exhibits a rotational modulation, implying a stellar rotational period likely to be near 23 or 46 days. In addition, we refine the system parameters and place tight upper limits for transit timing and duration variations, starspot occultation events, and additional transiting planets.

7 pages, 5 figures, 1 table. Accepted for publication in The Astronomical Journal

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• The phase curve and the geometric albedo of WASP-43b measured with CHEOPS, TESS and HST WFC3/UVIS
• An enhanced slope in the transmission spectrum of the hot Jupiter WASP-104b
• Polarization of hot Jupiter systems: a likely detection of stellar activity and a possible detection of planetary polarization
• A ground-based NUV secondary eclipse observation of KELT-9b
• Atmospheric Characterization via Broadband Color Filters on the PLAnetary Transits and Oscillations of stars (PLATO) Mission
• The Dark Planets of the WASP-47 Planetary System
• Characterizing the WASP-4 system with TESS and radial velocity data: Constraints on the cause of the hot Jupiter's changing orbit and evidence of an outer planet