A temperate super-Jupiter imaged with JWST in the mid-infrared

A temperate super-Jupiter imaged with JWST in the mid-infrared

26 September 2024 | E. C. Matthews, A. L. Carter, P. Pathak, C. V. Morley, M. W. Phillips, S. Krishnan P. M., F. Feng, M. J. Bonse, L. A. Boogaard, J. A. Burt, I. J. M. Crossfield, E. S. Douglas, Th. Henning, J. Hom, C.-L. Ko, M. Kasper, A.-M. Lagrange, D. Petit dit de la Roche & F. Philipot
A temperate super-Jupiter has been directly imaged using the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) in the mid-infrared. The planet, designated Eps Ind Ab, orbits a K5V star, Eps Ind A, which is approximately solar age. The planet has a temperature of about 275 K and is unusually bright at 10.65 and 15.50 micrometers. Its brightness suggests a high metallicity and high carbon-to-oxygen ratio. The planet is consistent with theoretical thermal evolution models and is likely the only massive planet in the system, despite having different orbital properties than previously claimed. JWST observations using the MIRI coronagraph revealed a bright point source in the north-east quadrant of Eps Ind A at a separation of 4.11 arcseconds. This location contradicts previous orbital solutions. The source is unresolved and has magnitudes of 13.16 and 11.20 at 10.65 and 15.50 micrometers, respectively. It is consistent with a cold, Jupiter-sized object at the host star distance. The source was confirmed to be physically associated with the host star, ruling out chance-aligned background objects. Archival data from the VISIR/NEAR instrument at the Very Large Telescope confirmed the same object, showing a faint point source with a signal-to-noise ratio of approximately 3. This confirms the planet's common proper motion and its status as a planet. The planet's mid-infrared photometry is consistent with atmosphere models for a 300 K planet, though models typically predict significant emission between 3.5 and 5.0 micrometers. The lack of detection in this range suggests an unknown opacity source, possibly due to high metallicity and high carbon-to-oxygen ratio. The planet's dynamical mass is estimated at 6.31 Jupiter masses with a semimajor axis of 28.4 au. The orbit is eccentric and consistent with all in-hand data. The planet's temperature and luminosity are consistent with evolutionary models, though the flux suppression at 3.5–5.0 micrometers remains unclear. The planet is the coldest directly imaged exoplanet and has a temperature close to that of the coldest field brown dwarf. It is part of a system with a widely separated brown dwarf binary, making it a valuable laboratory for comparative studies of substellar objects. The planet's high metallicity and carbon-to-oxygen ratio suggest it formed beyond the CO2 ice line. Future studies are needed to confirm these properties and understand the flux suppression. The planet's discovery highlights the power of indirect evidence in targeting direct detection efforts. The planet's properties challenge previous assumptions and suggest a need for further investigation into the system's dynamics and formation.A temperate super-Jupiter has been directly imaged using the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) in the mid-infrared. The planet, designated Eps Ind Ab, orbits a K5V star, Eps Ind A, which is approximately solar age. The planet has a temperature of about 275 K and is unusually bright at 10.65 and 15.50 micrometers. Its brightness suggests a high metallicity and high carbon-to-oxygen ratio. The planet is consistent with theoretical thermal evolution models and is likely the only massive planet in the system, despite having different orbital properties than previously claimed. JWST observations using the MIRI coronagraph revealed a bright point source in the north-east quadrant of Eps Ind A at a separation of 4.11 arcseconds. This location contradicts previous orbital solutions. The source is unresolved and has magnitudes of 13.16 and 11.20 at 10.65 and 15.50 micrometers, respectively. It is consistent with a cold, Jupiter-sized object at the host star distance. The source was confirmed to be physically associated with the host star, ruling out chance-aligned background objects. Archival data from the VISIR/NEAR instrument at the Very Large Telescope confirmed the same object, showing a faint point source with a signal-to-noise ratio of approximately 3. This confirms the planet's common proper motion and its status as a planet. The planet's mid-infrared photometry is consistent with atmosphere models for a 300 K planet, though models typically predict significant emission between 3.5 and 5.0 micrometers. The lack of detection in this range suggests an unknown opacity source, possibly due to high metallicity and high carbon-to-oxygen ratio. The planet's dynamical mass is estimated at 6.31 Jupiter masses with a semimajor axis of 28.4 au. The orbit is eccentric and consistent with all in-hand data. The planet's temperature and luminosity are consistent with evolutionary models, though the flux suppression at 3.5–5.0 micrometers remains unclear. The planet is the coldest directly imaged exoplanet and has a temperature close to that of the coldest field brown dwarf. It is part of a system with a widely separated brown dwarf binary, making it a valuable laboratory for comparative studies of substellar objects. The planet's high metallicity and carbon-to-oxygen ratio suggest it formed beyond the CO2 ice line. Future studies are needed to confirm these properties and understand the flux suppression. The planet's discovery highlights the power of indirect evidence in targeting direct detection efforts. The planet's properties challenge previous assumptions and suggest a need for further investigation into the system's dynamics and formation.
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