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We present the confirmation and characterization of three hot Jupiters, TOI-1181b, TOI-1516b, and TOI-2046b, discovered by the TESS space mission. The reported hot Jupiters have orbital periods between 1.4 and 2.05 d. The masses of the three planets are 1.18 ± 0.14 MJ, 3.16 ± 0.12 MJ, and 2.30 ± 0.28 MJ, for TOI-1181b, TOI-1516b, and TOI-2046b, respectively. The stellar host of TOI-1181b is a F9IV star, whereas TOI-1516b and TOI-2046b orbit F main sequence host stars. The ages of the first two systems are in the range of 2–5 Gyrs. However, TOI-2046 is among the few youngest known planetary systems hosting a hot Jupiter, with an age estimate of 100–400 Myrs. The main instruments used for the radial velocity follow-up of these three planets are located at Ondřejov, Tautenburg, and McDonald Observatory, and all three are mounted on 2–3 m aperture telescopes, demonstrating that mid-aperture telescope networks can play a substantial role in the follow-up of gas giants discovered by TESS and in the future by PLATO. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To link to full-text access for this article, visit this link: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.icarus.2007.02.009 Byline: Raine Karjalainen Keywords: Accretion; Saturn; rings Abstract: Ring particle aggregates are formed in the outer parts of Saturn's main rings. We study how collisions between aggregates can lead to destruction or coalescence of these aggregates, with local N-body simulations taking into account the dissipative impacts and gravitational forces between particles. Impacts of aggregates with different mass ratios are studied, as well as aggregates that consist of particles with different physical properties. We find that the outcome of the collision is very sensitive to the shape of the aggregate, in the sense that more elongated aggregates are more prone to be destroyed. We were interested in testing the accretion criterion Barbara and Esposito [Barbara, J.M., Esposito, L.W., 2002. Icarus 160, 161-171] used in their F ring simulations, according to which accretion requires that the masses of the colliding bodies differ at least by a factor of 100. We confirm that such a critical mass ratio exists. In particular, simulations indicate that the exact critical mass ratio depends on the internal density and elasticity of particles, and the distance from the planet. The zone of transition, defined by the distance where individual particles or small aggregates first start to stick on the larger aggregate, and by the distance where two similar sized aggregates on the average eventually coalesce is only about 5000 km wide, if fixed particle properties are used. The rotational state of the aggregates that form via aggregate collision rapidly reaches synchronous rotation, similarly to the aggregates that form via gradual growth. Author Affiliation: Department of Physical Sciences, Astronomy Division, P.O. Box 3000, FIN-90014, University of Oulu, Finland Article History: Received 6 November 2006; Revised 16 February 2007

Gravitational accretion in the rings of Saturn is studied with local N-body simulations, taking into account the dissipative impacts and gravitational forces between particles. Common estimates of accretion assume that gravitational sticking takes place beyond a certain distance (Roche distance) where the self-gravity between a pair of ring particles exceeds the disrupting tidal force of the central object, the exact value of this distance depending on the ring particles' internal density. However, the actual physical situation in the rings is more complicated, the growth and stability of the particle groups being affected also by the elasticity and friction in particle impacts, both directly via sticking probabilities and indirectly via velocity dispersion, as well as by the shape, rotational state and the internal packing density of the forming particle groups. These factors are most conveniently taken into account via N-body simulations. In our standard simulation case of identical 1 m particles with internal density of solid ice, [rho] = 900 kg [m.sup.-3], following the Bridges et al., 1984 elasticity law, we find accretion beyond a = 137,000-146,000 km, the smaller value referring to a distance where transient aggregates are first obtained, and the larger value to the distance where stable aggregates eventually form in every experiment lasting 50 orbital periods. Practically the same result is obtained for a constant coefficient of restitution [[member of].sub.n] = 0.5. In terms of [r.sub.p] parameter, the sum of particle radii normalized by their mutual Hill radius, the above limit for perfect accretion corresponds to [r.sub.p] < 0.84. Increased dissipation ([[member of].sub.n] = 0.1), or inclusion of friction (tangential force 10% of normal force) shifts the accretion region inward by about 5000 km. Accretion is also more efficient in the case of size distribution: with a q = 3 power law extending over a mass range of 1000, accretion shifts inward by almost 10,000 km. The aggregates forming in simulations via gradual accumulation of particles are synchronously rotating. Keywords: Planetary rings, Saturn; Accretion

The scattering properties of particulate rings with volume filling factors in the interval D = 0.001-0.3 are studied, with photometric Monte Carlo ray tracing simulations combining the advantages of direct (photons followed from the source) and indirect methods (brightness as seen from the observing direction). Besides vertically homogeneous models, ranging from monolayers to classical many-particle thick rings, particle distributions obtained from dynamical simulations are studied, possessing a nonuniform vertical profile and a power law distribution of particle sizes. Self-gravity is not included to assure homogeneity in planar directions. Our main goal is to check whether the moderately flattened ring models predicted by dynamical simulations (with central plane D > 0.1) are consistent with the basic photometric properties of Saturn's rings seen in ground-based observations, including the brightening near zero phase angle (opposition effect), and the brightening of the B-ring with increasing elevation angle (tilt effect). Our photometric simulations indicate that dense rings are typically brighter in reflected light than those with D [right arrow] 0, due to enhanced single scattering. For a vertically illuminated layer of identical particles this enhancement amounts at intermediate viewing elevations to roughly 1 + 2D. Increased single scattering is also obtained for low elevation illumination, further augmented at low phase angles [alpha] by the opposition brightening when D increases: the simulated opposition effect agrees very well with the Lumme and Bowell (1981, Astron. J. 86, 1694-1704) theoretical formula. For large [alpha] the total intensity may also decrease, due to reduced amount of multiple scattering. For the low ([alpha] = 13[degrees]) and high ([alpha] = 155[degrees]) phase angle geometries analyzed in Dones et al. (1993, Icarus 105, 184-215) the brightness change for D = 0.1 amounts to 20% and -17%, respectively. In the case of an extended size distribution, dynamical simulations indicate that the smallest particles typically occupy a layer several times thicker than the largest particles. Even if the large particles form a dynamically dense system, a narrow opposition peak can arise due to mutual shadowing among the small particles: for example, a size distribution extending about two decades can account for the observed about 1[degrees] wide opposition peak, solely in terms of mutual shadowing. The reduced width of the opposition peak for extended size distribution is in accordance with Hapke's (1986, Icarus 67, 264-280) treatment for semi-infinite layers. Due to vertical profile and particle size distribution, the photometric behavior is sensitive to the viewing elevation: this can account for the tilt-effect of the B-ring, as dense and thus bright central parts of the ring become better visible for larger elevation, whereas in the case of smaller elevation, mainly low volume density upper layers are visible. Since multiple scattering is not involved, the explanation works also for albedo well below unity. Inclusion of nonzero volume density helps also to model some of the Voyager observations. For example, the discrepancy between predicted and observed brightness at large phase angles for much of the A-ring (Dones et al., 1993, Icarus 105, 184-215) is removed when the enhanced low [alpha] single scattering and reduced large [alpha] multiple scattering is allowed for. Also, a model with vertical thickness increasing with satumocentric distance offers at least a qualitative explanation for the observed contrast reversal between the inner and outer A-ring in low and high phase Voyager images. Differences in local size distribution and thus on the effective D may also account for the contrast reversal in resonance sites. Keywords: Planetary rings; Saturn; Photometry; Radiative transfer; Collisional physics; Computer techniques

Multiple long and variable transits caused by dust from possibly disintegrating asteroids were detected in light curves of WD 1145+017. We present time-resolved spectroscopic observations of this target with QUCAM CCDs mounted in the Intermediate dispersion Spectrograph and Imaging System at the 4.2-m William Herschel Telescope in two different spectral arms: the blue arm covering 3800–4025 Å  and the red arm covering 7000–7430 Å. When comparing individual transits in both arms, our observations show with |$20\, \sigma$| significance an evident colour difference between the in- and out-of-transit data of the order of 0.05–0.1 mag, where transits are deeper in the red arm. We also show with |$\gt 6\, \sigma$| significance that spectral lines in the blue arm are shallower during transits than out-of-transit. For the circumstellar lines it also appears that during transits the reduction in absorption is larger on the red side of the spectral profiles. Our results confirm previous findings showing the u ′-band excess and a decrease in line absorption during transits. Both can be explained by an opaque body blocking a fraction of the gas disc causing the absorption, implying that the absorbing gas is between the white dwarf and the transiting objects. Our results also demonstrate the capability of EMCCDs to perform high-quality time-resolved spectroscopy of relatively faint targets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present the discovery of a variable optical counterpart to the unidentified gamma-ray source 3FGL J0212.1+5320 and argue that this is a new compact binary millisecond pulsar (MSP) candidate. We show 3FGL J0212.1+5320 hosts a semidetached binary with a 0.869 55 ± 0.000 15 d orbital period and an F6-type companion star at an estimated distance of D = 1.1 ± 0.2 kpc, with a radial velocity curve semi-amplitude K2 = 214.1 ± 5.0 km s-1 and a projected rotational velocity of V sin (i) = 73.2 ± 1.6 km s-1. We find a hard X-ray source at the same location with a 0.5-10 keV luminosity LX = 2.6 x 1032 (D/1.1 kpc)² erg s-1, which strengthens the MSP identification. Our results imply a mass ratio q = M2/M1 = 0.26-0.03+0.02 if the companion star fills its Roche lobe, and q ≳ 0.26 in any case. This classifies 3FGL J0212.1+5320 as a 'redback' binary MSP; if its MSP nature is confirmed, this will be the brightest compact binary MSP in the optical band (r' ≃ 14.3 mag) and will have the longest orbital period among Galactic field systems (nearly 21 h). Based on the light curve peak-to-peak amplitude (Δr = 0.19 mag), we further suggest that the orbital inclination is high and the putative pulsar mass is close to canonical (M1 ≃ 1.3-1.6 Mʘ). Finally, we discuss the lack of heating signatures and asymmetric optical light curves in the context of other redback MSPs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We study the Kepler object Kepler-432, an evolved star ascending the red giant branch. By deriving precise radial velocities from multi-epoch high-resolution spectra of Kepler-432 taken with the CAFE spectrograph at the 2.2 m telescope of Calar Alto Observatory and the FIES spectrograph at the Nordic Optical Telescope of Roque de Los Muchachos Observatory, we confirm the planetary nature of the object Kepler-432 b, which has a transit period of 52 days. We find a planetary mass of Mp = 5.84 ± 0.05 MJup and a high eccentricity of e = 0.478 ± 0.004. With a semi-major axis of a = 0.303 ± 0.007 AU, Kepler-432 b is the first bona fide warm Jupiter detected to transit a giant star. We also find a radial velocity linear trend of ɣ = 0.44 ± 0.04 ms-1 d-1, which suggests the presence of a third object in the system. Current models of planetary evolution in the post-main-sequence phase predict that Kepler-432 b will be most likely engulfed by its host star before the latter reaches the tip of the red giant branch. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]