The mu Arae planetary system: Radial velocities and astrometry

Abstract

With Hubble Space Telescope Fine Guidance Sensor astrometry and published and previously unpublished radial velocity measures we explore the exoplanetary system mu Arae. Our modeling of the radial velocities results in improved orbital elements for the four previously known components. Our astrometry contains no evidence for any known companion, but provides upper limits for three companion masses. A final summary of all past Fine Guidance Sensor exoplanet astrometry results uncover a bias towards small inclinations (more face-on than edge-on). This bias remains unexplained by either small number statistics, modeling technique, Fine Guidance Sensor mechanical issues, or orbit modeling of noise-dominated data. A numerical analysis using our refined orbital elements suggests that planet d renders the mu Arae system dynamically unstable on a timescale of 10^5 years, in broad agreement with previous work.

Accepted to Astronomical Journal

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• The 14 Her Planetary System: Companion Masses and Architecture from Radial Velocities and Astrometry
• SPORES-HWO. II. Companion Mass Limits and Updated Planet Properties for 120 Future Exoplanet Imaging Targets from 35 yr of Precise Doppler Monitoring
• The orbital architecture and stability of the $\mu$ Arae planetary system