Detecting the General Relativistic Orbital Precession of the Exoplanet HD 80606b

Abstract

We investigate the relativistic effects in the orbital motion of the exoplanet HD80606b with a high eccentricity of $e\simeq 0.93$ .We propose a method to detect these effects (notably the orbital precession) based on measuring the successive eclipse and transit times of the exoplanet. In the case of HD80606b, we find that in ten years (after approximately 33 periods) the instants of transits and eclipses are delayed with respect to the Newtonian prediction by about three minutes due to relativistic effects. These effects can be detected by comparing at different epochs the time difference between a transit and the preceding eclipse, and should be measurable by comparing events already observed on HD80606 in 2010 with the Spitzer satellite together with those to be observed in the future with the James Webb Space Telescope.

arXiv comment15 pages, 5 figures, submitted to Astronomy & Astrophysics

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• Utilizing a global network of telescopes to update the ephemeris for the highly eccentric planet HD 80606 b and to ensure the efficient scheduling of JWST
• Detecting General Relativistic Orbital Precession in Transiting Hot Jupiters
• Post-Newtonian effects on some characteristic timescales of transiting exoplanets
• Parametrized tests of general relativity using eccentric compact binaries
• 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
• Light-Curve Evolution due to Secular Dynamics and the Vanishing Transits of KOI 120.01
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• The Influence of General Relativity on the Spins of Celestial Bodies in Inclined Orbits
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