Search

EPIC 216747137 is a new HW Virginis system discovered by the Kepler spacecraft during its K2 'second life'. Like the other HW Vir systems, EPIC 216747137 is a post-common-envelope eclipsing binary consisting of a hot subluminous star and a cool low-mass companion. The short orbital period of 3.87 h produces a strong reflection effect from the secondary (similar to 9 per cent in the R band). Together with AA Dor and V1828 Aql, EPIC 216747137 belongs to a small subgroup of HW Vir systems with a hot evolved sdOB primary. We find the following atmospheric parameters for the hot component: T-eff = 40400 +/- 1000 K, log g = 5.56 +/- 0.06, and log(N(He)/N(H)) = -2.59 +/- 0.05. The sdOB rotational velocity v sin i = 51 +/- 10 km s(-1) implies that the stellar rotation is slower than the orbital revolution and the system is not synchronized. When we combine photometric and spectroscopic results with the Gaia parallax, the best solution for the system corresponds to a primary with a mass of about 0.62 M-circle dot close to, and likely beyond, the central helium exhaustion, while the cool M-dwarf companion has a mass of about 0.11 M-circle dot.

We report the discovery and analysis of the planetary microlensing event OGLE-2017-BLG-0406, which was observed both from the ground and by the Spitzer satellite in a solar orbit. At high magnification, the anomaly in the light curve was densely observed by ground-based-survey and follow-up groups, and it was found to be explained by a planetary lens with a planet/host mass ratio of q = 7.0 x 10(-4) from the light-curve modeling. The ground-only and Spitzer-only data each provide very strong one-dimensional (1D) constraints on the 2D microlens parallax vector pi(E). When combined, these yield a precise measurement of pi(E) and of the masses of the host M-host = 0.56 +/- 0.07 M-circle dot and planet M-planet = 0.41 +/- 0.05 M-Jup. The system lies at a distance D-L = 5.2 +/- 0.5 kpc from the Sun toward the Galactic bulge, and the host is more likely to be a disk population star according to the kinematics of the lens. The projected separation of the planet from the host is a(perpendicular to) = 3.5 +/- 0.3 au (i.e., just over twice the snow line). The Galactic-disk kinematics are established in part from a precise measurement of the source proper motion based on OGLE-IV data. By contrast, the Gaia proper-motion measurement of the source suffers from a catastrophic 10 sigma error.

PDS 110 is a young disc-hosting star in the Orion OB1A association. Two dimming events of similar depth and duration were seen in 2008 (WASP) and 2011 (KELT), consistent with an object in a closed periodic orbit. In this paper, we present data from a ground-based observing campaign designed to measure the star both photometrically and spectroscopically during the time of predicted eclipse in 2017 September. Despite high-quality photometry, the predicted eclipse did not occur, although coherent structure is present suggesting variable amounts of stellar flux or dust obscuration. We also searched for radial velocity (RV) oscillations caused by any hypothetical companion and can rule out close binaries to 0.1Ms. Asearch of Sonneberg plate archive data also enabled us to extend the photometric baseline of this star back more than 50 yr, and similarly does not re-detect any deep eclipses. Taken together, they suggest that the eclipses seen in WASP and KELT photometry were due to aperiodic events. It would seem that PDS 110 undergoes stochastic dimmings that are shallower and of shorter duration than those of UX Ori variables, but may have a similar mechanism.

We present broad-band photometry of 11 planetary transits of the hot Jupiter WASP-74 b, using three medium-class telescopes and employing the telescope-defocusing technique. Most of the transits were monitored through I filters and one was simultaneously observed in five optical (U, g', r', i', z') and three near-infrared (J, H, K) passbands, for a total of 18 light curves. We also obtained new high-resolution spectra of the host star. We used these new data to review the orbital and physical properties of the WASP-74 planetary system. We were able to better constrain the main system characteristics, measuring smaller radius and mass for both the hot Jupiter and its host star than previously reported in the literature. Joining our optical data with those taken with the HST in the near infrared, we built up an observational transmission spectrum of the planet, which suggests the presence of strong optical absorbers, as TiO and VO gases, in its atmosphere.

The kinematics of isolated brown dwarfs in the Galaxy, beyond the solar neighborhood, is virtually unknown. Microlensing has the potential to probe this hidden population, as it can measure both the mass and five of the six phase-space coordinates (all except the radial velocity) even of a dark isolated lens. However, the measurements of both the microlens-parallax and finite-source effects are needed in order to recover the full information. Here, we combine the Spitzer satellite parallax measurement with the ground-based light curve, which exhibits strong finite-source effects, of event OGLE-2017-BLG-0896. We find two degenerate solutions for the lens (due to the known satellite-parallax degeneracy), which are consistent with each other except for their proper motion. The lens is an isolated brown dwarf with a mass of either 18 +/- 1 M-J or 20 +/- 1 M-J. This is the lowest isolated-object mass measurement to date, only similar to 45% more massive than the theoretical deuterium-fusion boundary at solar metallicity, which is the common definition of a free-floating planet. The brown dwarf is located at either 3.9 +/- 0.1 kpc or 4.1 +/- 0.1 kpc toward the Galactic bulge, but with proper motion in the opposite direction of disk stars, with one solution suggesting it is moving within the Galactic plane. While it is possibly a halo brown dwarf, it might also represent a different, unknown population.

We report the discovery of a cold Super-Earth planet (m(p) = 4.4 +/- 0.5 M-circle plus) orbiting a low-mass (M = 0.23 +/- 0.03 M-circle dot) M dwarf at projected separation a(perpendicular to) l = 1.18 +/- 0.10 a.u., i.e., about 1.9 times the distance the snow line. The system is quite nearby for a microlensing planet, D-L = 0.86 +/- 0.09 kpc. Indeed, it was the large lens-source relative parallax pi(rel) = 1.0 mas (combined with the low mass M) that gave rise to the large, and thus well-measured, microlens parallax pi(E) proportional to (pi(rel)/M)(1)(/2) that enabled these precise measurements. OGLE-2017-BLG-1434Lb is the eighth microlensing planet with planet-host mass ratio q < 1 x 10(-4). We apply a new planet-detection sensitivity method, which is a variant of V/V-max, to seven of these eight planets to derive the mass-ratio function in this regime. We find dN/ d lnq proportional to q(P) , with p =1.05(-0.68)(+0.78), which confirms the turnover in the mass function found by Suzuki et al. relative to the power law of opposite sign n = -0.93 +/- 0.13 at higher mass ratios q greater than or similar to 2 x 10(-4). We combine our result with that of Suzuki et al. to obtain p = 0.73(-0.34)(+0.42.)

Context. Two independent investigations of the atmosphere of the hot Jupiter HAT-P-12b by two different groups resulted in discrepant solutions. Using broad-band photometry from the ground, one study found a flat and featureless transmission spectrum that was interpreted as gray absorption by dense cloud coverage. The second study made use of Hubble Space Telescope (HST) observations and found Rayleigh scattering at optical wavelengths caused by haze. Aims. The main purpose of this work is to determine the source of this inconsistency and provide feedback to prevent similar discrepancies in future analyses of other exoplanetary atmospheres. Methods. We studied the observed discrepancy via two methods. With further broad-band observations in the optical wavelength regions, we strengthened the previous measurements in precision, and with a homogeneous reanalysis of the published data, we were able to assess the systematic errors and the independent analyses of the two different groups. Results. Repeating the analysis steps of both works, we found that deviating values for the orbital parameters are the reason for the aforementioned discrepancy. Our work showed a degeneracy of the planetary spectral slope with these parameters. In a homogeneous reanalysis of all data, the two literature data sets and the new observations converge to a consistent transmission spectrum, showing a low-amplitude spectral slope and a tentative detection of potassium absorption.

Mass measurements of gravitational microlenses require one to determine the microlens parallax pE, but precise pE measurement, in many cases, is hampered due to the subtlety of the microlens-parallax signal combined with the difficulty of distinguishing the signal from those induced by other higher-order effects. In this work, we present the analysis of the binary-lens event OGLE-2017-BLG-0329, for which pi(E) is measured with a dramatically improved precision using additional data from space-based Spitzer observations. We find that while the parallax model based on the ground-based data cannot be distinguished from a zero-pi(E) model at the 2 sigma level, the addition of the Spitzer data enables us to identify two classes of solutions, each composed of a pair of solutions according to the well-known ecliptic degeneracy. It is found that the space-based data reduce the measurement uncertainties of the north and east components of the microlens-parallax vector pE by factors similar to 18 and similar to 4, respectively. With the measured microlens parallax combined with the angular Einstein radius measured from the resolved caustic crossings, we find that the lens is composed of a binary with component masses of either (M-1, M-2) similar to (1.1, 0.8) M-circle dot or similar to(0.4, 0.3) M-circle dot according to the two solution classes. The first solution is significantly favored but the second cannot be securely ruled out based on the microlensing data alone. However, the degeneracy can be resolved from adaptive optics observations taken similar to 10 years after the event.

Context. The measurement of the orbital obliquity of hot Jupiters with different physical characteristics can provide clues to the mechanisms of migration and orbital evolution of this particular class of giant exoplanets. Aims. We aim to derive the degree of alignment between planetary orbit and stellar spin angular momentum vectors and look for possible links with other orbital and fundamental physical parameters of the star-planet system. We focus on the characterisation of five transiting planetary systems (HAT-P-3, HAT-P-12, HAT-P-22, WASP-39, and WASP-60) and the determination of their sky-projected planet orbital obliquity through the measurement of the Rossiter-McLaughlin effect. Methods. We used HARPS-N high-precision radial velocity measurements, gathered during transit events, to measure the Rossiter-McLaughlin effect in the target systems and determine the sky-projected angle between the planetary orbital plane and stellar equator. The characterisation of stellar atmospheric parameters was performed by exploiting the HARPS-N spectra, using line equivalent width ratios and spectral synthesis methods. Photometric parameters of the five transiting exoplanets were re-analysed through 17 new light curves, obtained with an array of medium-class telescopes, and other light curves from the literature. Survey-time-series photometric data were analysed for determining the rotation periods of the five stars and their spin inclination. Results. From the analysis of the Rossiter-McLaughlin effect we derived a sky-projected obliquity of lambda = 21.2 degrees +/- 8.7 degrees, lambda = -54 degrees(+41 degrees)(-13 degrees), lambda = -2.1 degrees +/- 3.0 degrees, lambda = 0 degrees +/- 11 degrees, and lambda = -129 degrees +/- 17 degrees for HAT-P-3 b, HAT-P-12 b, HAT-P-22 b, WASP-39 b, and WASP-60 b, respectively. The latter value indicates that WASP-60 b is moving on a retrograde orbit. These values represent the first measurements of lambda for the five exoplanetary s

Although the majority of radial velocity detected planets have been found orbiting solar-type stars, a fraction of them have been discovered around giant stars. These planetary systems have revealed different orbital properties when compared to solar-type star companions. In particular, radial velocity surveys have shown that there is a lack of giant planets in close-in orbits around giant stars, in contrast to the known population of hot Jupiters orbiting solar-type stars. It has been theorized that the reason for this distinctive feature in the semimajor axis distribution is the result of the stellar evolution and/or that it is due to the effect of a different formation/evolution scenario for planets around intermediate-mass stars. However, in the past few years a handful of transiting short-period planets (P less than or similar to 10 days) have been found around giant stars, thanks to the high-precision photometric data obtained initially by the Kepler mission, and later by its two-wheel extension K2. These new discoveries have allowed us for the first time to study the orbital properties and physical parameters of these intriguing and elusive substellar companions. In this paper we report on an independent discovery of a transiting planet in field 10 of the K2 mission, also reported recently by Grunblatt et al. (2017, AJ, 154, 254). The host star has recently evolved to the giant phase, and has the following atmospheric parameters: T-eff = 4878 +/- 70 K, log g = 3.289 +/- 0.004, and [Fe/H] = 0.11 +/- 0.05 dex. The main orbital parameters of K2-132 b, obtained with all the available data for the system are: P = 9.1708 +/- 0.0025 d, e = 0.290 +/- 0.049, M-p = 0.495 +/- 0.007 M-J and R-p = 1.089 +/- 0.006 R-J. This is the fifth known planet orbiting any giant star with a < 0 : 1, and the most eccentric one among them, making K2-132 b a very interesting object.

We report the discovery of four short-period extrasolar planets transiting moderately bright stars from photometric measurements of the HATSouth network coupled to additional spectroscopic and photometric follow-up observations. While the planet masses range from 0.26 to 0.90 M-J, the radii are all approximately a Jupiter radii, resulting in a wide range of bulk densities. The orbital period of the planets ranges from 2.7 days to 4.7 days, with HATS-43b having an orbit that appears to be marginally non-circular (e = 0.173 +/- 0.089). HATS-44 is notable for having a high metallicity ([Fe/H]= 0.320 +/- 0.071). The host stars spectral types range from late F to early K, and all of them are moderately bright (13.3 < V < 14.4), allowing the execution of future detailed follow-up observations. HATS-43b and HATS-46b, with expected transmission signals of 2350 ppm and 1500 ppm, respectively, are particularly well suited targets for atmospheric characterization via transmission spectroscopy.

We report the discovery of four close-in transiting exoplanets (HATS-50b through HATS-53b), discovered using the HATSouth three-continent network of homogeneous and automated telescopes. These new exoplanets belong to the class of hot Jupiters and orbit G-type dwarf stars, with brightness in the range V = 12.5-14.0 mag. While HATS-53 has many physical characteristics similar to the Sun, the other three stars appear to be metal-rich ([Fe/H]= 0.2-0.3), larger, and more massive. Three of the new exoplanets, namely HATS-50b, HATS-51b, and HATS-53b, have low density (HATS-50b: 0.39 +/- 0.10 M-J, 1.130 +/- 0.075 R-J; HATS-51b: 0.768 +/- 0.045 M-J, 1.41 +/- 0.19 R-J; HATS-53b: 0.595 +/- 0.089 M-J, 1.340 +/- 0.056 R-J) and similar orbital periods (3.8297 days, 3.3489 days, 3.8538 days, respectively). Instead, HATS-52b is more dense (mass 2.24. +/- 0.15 M-J and radius 1.382 +/- 0.086 R-J) and has a shorter orbital period (1.3667 days). It also receives an intensive radiation from its parent star and, consequently, presents a high equilibrium temperature (T-eq = 1834 +/- 73 K). HATS-50 shows a marginal additional transit feature consistent with an ultra-short-period hot super Neptune (upper mass limit 0.16 M-J), which will be able to be confirmed with TESS photometry.

We present high-precision photometry of eight separate transit events in the HAT-P-32 planetary system. One transit event was observed simultaneously by two telescopes of which one obtained a simultaneous multiband light curve in three optical bands, giving a total of 11 transit light curves. Due to the filter selection and in conjunction with using the defocused photometry technique, we were able to obtain an extremely high-precision, ground-based transit in the u band (350 nm), with an rms scatter of approximate to 1 mmag. All 11 transits were modelled using PRISM and GEMC, and the physical properties of the system calculated. We find the mass and radius of the host star to be 1.182 +/- 0.041 M-circle dot and 1.225 +/- 0.015 R-circle dot, respectively. For the planet, we find a mass of 0.80 +/- 0.14 M-Jup, a radius of 1.807 +/- 0.022 R-Jup, and a density of 0.126 +/- 0.023 rho(Jup). These values are consistent with those found in the literature. We also obtain a new orbital ephemeris for the system T-0 = BJD/TDB 2 454 420.447187(96)+2.15000800(10) x E. We measured the transmission spectrum of HAT-P-32Ab and compared it to theoretical transmission spectra. Our results indicate a bimodal cloud particle distribution consisting of Rayleigh-like haze and grey absorbing cloud particles within the atmosphere of HAT-P-32Ab.

We report the discovery of OGLE-2016-BLG-1190Lb, which is likely to be the first Spitzer microlensing planet in the Galactic bulge/ bar, an assignation that can be confirmed by two epochs of high-resolution imaging of the combined source-lens baseline object. The planet's mass, M-p = 13.4 +/- 0.9 M-J, places it right at the deuteriumburning limit, i. e., the conventional boundary between planets and brown dwarfs. Its existence raises the question of whether such objects are really planets (formed within the disks of their hosts) or failed stars (lowmass objects formed by gas fragmentation). This question may ultimately be addressed by comparing disk and bulge/bar planets, which is a goal of the Spitzer microlens program. The host is a G dwarf, M-host = 0.89. +/- 0.07 M-circle dot, and the planet has a semimajor axis a similar to 2.0 au. We use Kepler K2 Campaign 9 microlensing data to break the lens-mass degeneracy that generically impacts parallax solutions from Earth-Spitzer observations alone, which is the first successful application of this approach. The microlensing data, derived primarily from near-continuous, ultradense survey observations from OGLE, MOA, and three KMTNet telescopes, contain more orbital information than for any previous microlensing planet, but not quite enough to accurately specify the full orbit. However, these data do permit the first rigorous test of microlensing orbital-motion measurements, which are typically derived from data taken over < 1% of an orbital period.

We report the discovery of Qatar-3b, Qatar-4b, and Qatar-5b, three new transiting planets identified by the Qatar Exoplanet Survey. The three planets belong to the hot Jupiter family, with orbital periods of P-Q3b = 2.50792 days, P-Q4b = 1.80539 days, and P-Q5b = 2.87923 days. Follow-up spectroscopic observations reveal the masses of the planets to be M-Q3b = 4.31 +/- 0.47 M-J, M-Q4b = 6.10 +/- 0.54 M-J, and M-Q5b = 4.32 +/- 0.18 M-J, while model fits to the transit light curves yield radii of R-Q3b = 1.096 +/- 0.14 RJ, R-Q4b = 1.135 +/- 0.11 R-J, and R-Q5b = 1.107 +/- 0.064 R-J. The host stars are low-mass main sequence stars with masses and radii M-Q3 = 1.145 +/- 0.064 M circle dot, M-Q4 = 0.896 +/- 0.048 M circle dot, M-Q5 = 1.128 +/- 0.056 M circle dot and R-Q3 = 1.272 +/- 0.14 R circle dot, R-Q4 = 0.849 +/- 0.063 R circle dot, and R-Q5 = 1.076 +/- 0.051 R circle dot for Qatar-3, 4, and 5 respectively. The V magnitudes of the three host stars are V-Q3 = 12.88, V-Q4 = 13.60, and V-Q5 = 12.82. All three new planets can be classified as heavy hot Jupiters (M > 4 M-J).

Detecting the atmospheres of low-mass, low-temperature exoplanets is a high-priority goal on the path to ultimately detecting biosignatures in the atmospheres of habitable exoplanets. High-precision HST observations of several super-Earths with equilibrium temperatures below 1000 K have to date all resulted in featureless transmission spectra, which have been suggested to be due to high-altitude clouds. We report the detection of an atmospheric feature in the atmosphere of a 1.6 M-circle plus transiting exoplanet, GJ 1132 b, with an equilibrium temperature of similar to 600 K and orbiting a nearby M dwarf. We present observations of nine transits of the planet obtained simultaneously in the griz and JHK passbands. We find an average radius of 1.43 +/- 0.16 R-circle plus for the planet, averaged over all the passbands, and a radius of 0.255 +/- 0.023 R-circle dot for the star, both of which are significantly greater than previously found. The planet radius can be decomposed into a surface radius at similar to 1.375 R-circle plus overlaid by atmospheric features that increase the observed radius in the z and K bands. The z-band radius is 4 sigma higher than the continuum, suggesting a strong detection of an atmosphere. We deploy a suite of tests to verify the reliability of the transmission spectrum, which are greatly helped by the existence of repeat observations. The large z-band transit depth indicates strong opacity from H2O and/or CH4 or a hitherto-unconsidered opacity. A surface radius of 1.375 +/- 0.16 R-circle plus allows for a wide range of interior compositions ranging from a nearly Earth-like rocky interior, with similar to 70% silicate and similar to 30% Fe, to a substantially H2O-rich water world.

We report the discovery of three moderately high-mass transiting hot Jupiters from the HATSouth survey: HATS-22b, HATS-23b and HATS-24b. These planets add to the number of known planets in the similar to 2MJ regime. HATS-22b is a 2.74 +/- 0.11MJ mass and 0.953(-0.029)(+0.048) R-J radius planet orbiting a V = 13.455 +/- 0.040 sub-solar mass (M-* = 0.759 +/- 0.019M(circle dot); R-* = 0.759 +/- 0.019 R-circle dot) K-dwarf host star on an eccentric (e = 0.079 +/- 0.026) orbit. This planet's high planet-to-stellar mass ratio is further evidence that migration mechanisms for hot Jupiters may rely on exciting orbital eccentricities that bring the planets closer to their parent stars followed by tidal circularization. HATS-23b is a 1.478 +/- 0.080M(J) mass and 1.69 +/- 0.24 R-J radius planet on a grazing orbit around a V = 13.901 +/- 0.010 G-dwarf with properties very similar to those of the Sun (M* = 1.115 +/- 0.054; R-* = 1.145 +/- 0.070). HATS24b orbits a moderately bright V = 12.830 +/- 0.010 F-dwarf star (M-* = 1.218 +/- 0.036M circle dot; R-* = 1.194(-0.041)(+0.066) R circle dot). This planet has a mass of 2.39+0.21 -0.12MJ and an inflated radius of 1.516(-0.065)(+0.085) R-J.

The NASA K2 mission uses photometry to find planets transiting stars of various types. M dwarfs are of high interest since they host more short-period planets than any other type of main-sequence star and transiting planets around M dwarfs have deeper transits compared to other main-sequence stars. In this paper, we present stellar parameters from K and M dwarfs hosting transiting planet candidates discovered by our team. Using the SOFI spectrograph on the European Southern Observatory's New Technology Telescope, we obtained R approximate to 1000 J-, H-, and K-band (0.95-2.52 mu m) spectra of 34 late-type K2 planet and candidate planet host systems and 12 bright K4-M5 dwarfs with interferometrically measured radii and effective temperatures. Out of our 34 late-type K2 targets, we identify 27 of these stars as M dwarfs. We measure equivalent widths of spectral features, derive calibration relations using stars with interferometric measurements, and estimate stellar radii, effective temperatures, masses, and luminosities for the K2 planet hosts. Our calibrations provide radii and temperatures with median uncertainties of 0.059 R-circle dot (16.09%) and 160 K (4.33%), respectively. We then reassess the radii and equilibrium temperatures of known and candidate planets based on our spectroscopically derived stellar parameters. Since a planet's radius and equilibrium temperature depend on the parameters of its host star, our study provides more precise planetary parameters for planets and candidates orbiting late-type stars observed with K2. We find a median planet radius and an equilibrium temperature of approximately 3 R-circle plus and 500 K, respectively, with several systems (K2-18b and K2-72e) receiving near-Earth-like levels of incident irradiation.

We report the discovery of Qatar-3b, Qatar-4b, and Qatar-5b, three new transiting planets identified by the Qatar Exoplanet Survey. The three planets belong to the hot Jupiter family, with orbital periods of PQ3b=2.50792 days, PQ4b=1.80539 days, and PQ5b=2.87923 days. Follow-up spectroscopic observations reveal the masses of the planets to be MQ3b=4.31±0.47 MJ, MQ4b=6.10±0.54 MJ, and MQ5b=4.32±0.18 MJ, while model fits to the transit light curves yield radii of RQ3b=1.096±0.14 RJ, RQ4b=1.135±0.11 RJ, and RQ5b= 1.107±0.064 RJ. The host stars are low-mass main sequence stars with masses and radii MQ3= 1.145±0.064 Ṁ, MQ4=0.896±0.048Ṁ, MQ5=1.128±0.056 Ṁ and RQ3=1.272±0.14 RṀ, RQ4=0.849±0.063 R , and RQ5=1.076±0.051 Ṙ for Qatar-3, 4, and 5 respectively. The V magnitudes of the three host stars are VQ3=12.88, VQ4=13.60, and VQ5=12.82. All three new planets can be classified as heavy hot Jupiters (M > 4 MJ).

The WASP-98 planetary system represents a rare case of a hot Jupiter hosted by a metalpoor main-sequence star. We present a follow-up study of this system based on multiband photometry and high-resolution spectroscopy. Two new transit events of WASP-98 b were simultaneously observed in four passbands (g', r', i', z'), using the telescope-defocusing technique, yielding eight high-precision light curves with point-to-point scatters of less than 1 mmag. We also collected three spectra of the parent star with a high-resolution spectrograph, which we used to remeasure its spectral characteristics, in particular its metallicity. We found this to be very low, [Fe/ H] = -0.49 +/- 0.10, but larger than was previously reported, [Fe/ H]=-0.60 +/- 0.19. We used these new photometric and spectroscopic data to refine the orbital and physical properties of this planetary system, finding that the stellar and planetary mass measurements are significantly larger than those in the discovery paper. In addition, the multiband light curves were used to construct an optical transmission spectrum of WASP-98 b and probe the characteristics of its atmosphere at the terminator. We measured a lower radius at z' compared with the other three passbands. The maximum variation is between the r' and z' bands, has a confidence level of roughly 6 sigma and equates to 5.5 pressure scale heights. We compared this spectrum to theoretical models, investigating several possible types of atmospheres, including hazy, cloudy, cloud-free, and clear atmospheres with titanium and vanadium oxide opacities. We could not find a good fit to the observations, except in the extreme case of a clear atmosphere with TiO and VO opacities, in which the condensation of Ti and V was suppressed. As this case is unrealistic, our results suggest the presence of an additional optical-absorbing species in the atmosphere of WASP-98 b, of unknown chemical nature.

Context. We show the benefits of using electron-multiplying CCDs and the shift-and-add technique as a tool to minimise the effects of atmospheric turbulence, such as blending between stars in crowded fields, and to avoid saturated stars in the fields observed. We intend to complete, or improve on, the census of the variable star population in globular cluster NGC 6715. Aims. Our aim is to obtain high-precision time-series photometry of the very crowded central region of this stellar system via the collection of better angular resolution images than has been previously achieved with conventional CCDs on ground-based telescopes. Methods. Observations were carried out using the Danish 1.54-m telescope at the ESO La Silla observatory in Chile. The telescope is equipped with an electron-multiplying CCD that enables short-exposure-time images to be obtained (ten images per second) that were stacked using the shift-and-add technique to produce the normal-exposure-time images (minutes). The high precision photometry was performed via difference image analysis employing the DanDIA pipeline. We attempted automatic detection of variable stars in the field. Results. We statistically analysed the light curves of 1405 stars in the crowded central region of NGC 6715 to automatically identify the variable stars present in this cluster. We found light curves for 17 previously known variable stars near the edges of our reference image (16 RR Lyrae and 1 semi-regular) and we discovered 67 new variables (30 RR Lyrae, 21 irregular (long-period type), 3 semi-regular, 1 W Virginis, 1 eclipsing binary, and 11 unclassified). Photometric measurements for these stars are available in electronic form through the Strasbourg Astronomical Data Centre.

We report the discovery of five new transiting hot-Jupiter planets discovered by the HATSouth survey, HATS-31b through HATS-35b. These planets orbit moderately bright stars with V magnitudes within the range of 11.9-14.4 mag while the planets span a range of masses of. 0.88-1.22 M-J. and have somewhat inflated radii between 1.23 and 1.64 R-J. These planets can be classified as typical hot Jupiters, with HATS-31b and HATS-35b being moderately inflated gas giant planets with radii of 1.64 +/- 0.22 R-J and 1.464(-0.044)(+0.069) R-J, respectively, that can be used to constrain inflation mechanisms. All five systems present a higher Bayesian evidence for a fixed-circular-orbit model than for an eccentric orbit. The orbital periods range from 1.8209993 +/- 0.0000016 day for HATS-35b) to 3.377960 +/- 0.000012 day for HATS-31b. Additionally, HATS-35b orbits a relatively young F star with an age of 2.13 +/- 0.51 Gyr. We discuss the analysis to derive the properties of these systems and compare them in the context of the sample of well-characterized transiting hot Jupiters known to date.

We report the discovery of HATS-17b, the first transiting warm Jupiter of the HATSouth network. HATS-17b transits its bright (V = 12.4) G-type (${M}_{\star }$ = $1.131\pm 0.030$ ${M}_{\odot }$, ${R}_{\star }$ = ${1.091}_{-0.046}^{+0.070}$ ${R}_{\odot }$) metal-rich ([Fe/H] = +0.3 dex) host star in a circular orbit with a period of P = $16.2546$ days. HATS-17b has a very compact radius of $0.777\pm 0.056$ ${R}_{{\rm{J}}}$ given its Jupiter-like mass of $1.338\pm 0.065$ ${M}_{{\rm{J}}}$. Up to 50% of the mass of HATS-17b may be composed of heavy elements in order to explain its high density with current models of planetary structure. HATS-17b is the longest period transiting planet discovered to date by a ground-based photometric survey, and is one of the brightest transiting warm Jupiter systems known. The brightness of HATS-17 will allow detailed follow-up observations to characterize the orbital geometry of the system and the atmosphere of the planet.

We report the discovery of two transiting extrasolar planets from the HATSouth survey. HATS-11, a V = 14.1 G0-star shows a periodic $12.9$ mmag dip in its light curve every 3.6192 days and a radial velocity variation consistent with a Keplerian orbit. HATS-11 has a mass of $1.000\pm 0.060$ ${M}_{\odot }$, a radius of $1.444\pm 0.057$ ${R}_{\odot }$ and an effective temperature of $6060\pm 150$ K, while its companion is a $0.85\pm 0.12$ ${M}_{{\rm{J}}}$, $1.510\pm 0.078$ ${R}_{{\rm{J}}}$ planet in a circular orbit. HATS-12 shows a periodic 5.1 mmag flux decrease every 3.1428 days and Keplerian RV variations around a V = 12.8 F-star. HATS-12 has a mass of $1.489\pm 0.071$ ${M}_{\odot }$, a radius of $2.21\pm 0.21$ ${R}_{\odot }$, and an effective temperature of $6408\pm 75$ K. For HATS-12b, our measurements indicate that this is a $2.38\pm 0.11$ ${M}_{{\rm{J}}}$, $1.35\pm 0.17$ ${R}_{{\rm{J}}}$ planet in a circular orbit. Both host stars show subsolar metallicities of $-0.390\pm 0.060$ dex and $-0.100\pm 0.040$ dex, respectively, and are (slightly) evolved stars. In fact, HATS-11 is among the most metal-poor and, HATS-12, with a $\mathrm{log}{g}_{\star }$ of $3.923\pm 0.065$, is among the most evolved stars hosting a hot-Jupiter planet. Importantly, HATS-11 and HATS-12 have been observed in long cadence by Kepler as part of K2 campaign 7 (EPIC216414930 and EPIC218131080 respectively).

We report six new inflated hot Jupiters (HATS-25b through HATS-30b) discovered using the HATSouth global network of automated telescopes. The planets orbit stars with V magnitudes in the range of ~12–14 and have masses in the largely populated $0.5{M}_{J}\mbox{--}0.7{M}_{J}$ region of parameter space but span a wide variety of radii, from $1.17{R}_{J}$ to $1.75{R}_{J}$. HATS-25b, HATS-28b, HATS-29b, and HATS-30b are typical inflated hot Jupiters (${R}_{p}=1.17\mbox{--}1.26{R}_{J}$) orbiting G–type stars in short period (P = 3.2-4.6 days) orbits. However, HATS-26b (${R}_{p}=1.75{R}_{J}$, $P=3.3024$ days) and HATS-27b (${R}_{p}=1.50{R}_{J}$, $P=4.6370$ days) stand out as highly inflated planets orbiting slightly evolved F stars just after and in the turn–off points, respectively, which are among the least dense hot Jupiters, with densities of 0.153 ${\rm{g}}\,{\mathrm{cm}}^{-3}$ and 0.180 ${\rm{g}}\,{\mathrm{cm}}^{-3}$, respectively. All the presented exoplanets but HATS-27b are good targets for future atmospheric characterization studies, while HATS-27b is a prime target for Rossiter—McLaughlin monitoring in order to determine its spin–orbit alignment given the brightness (V = 12.8) and stellar rotational velocity ($v\sin i\approx 9.3$ km s−1) of the host star. These discoveries significantly increase the number of inflated hot Jupiters known, contributing to our understanding of the mechanism(s) responsible for hot Jupiter inflation.

We report the discovery by the HATSouth survey of HATS-6b, an extrasolar planet transiting a V = 15.2 mag, i = 13.7 mag M1V star with a mass of 0.57 and a radius of 0.57 . HATS-6b has a period of P = 3.3253 d, mass of = 0.32 , radius of = 1.00 , and zero-albedo equilibrium temperature of = 712.8 ±5.1 K. HATS-6 is one of the lowest mass stars known to host a close-in gas giant planet, and its transits are among the deepest of any known transiting planet system. We discuss the follow-up opportunities afforded by this system, noting that despite the faintness of the host star, it is expected to have the highest K-band S/N transmission spectrum among known gas giant planets with K. In order to characterize the star we present a new set of empirical relations between the density, radius, mass, bolometric magnitude, and V-, J-, H- and K-band bolometric corrections for main sequence stars with , or spectral types later than K5. These relations are calibrated using eclipsing binary components as well as members of resolved binary systems. We account for intrinsic scatter in the relations in a self-consistent manner. We show that from the transit-based stellar density alone it is possible to measure the mass and radius of a ∼0.6 star to ∼7 and ∼2% precision, respectively. Incorporating additional information, such as the color, or an absolute magnitude, allows the precision to be improved by up to a factor of two.

HATS-8b is a low density transiting super-Neptune discovered as part of the HATSouth project. The planet orbits its solar-like G-dwarf host (V = , = K) with a period of days. HATS-8b is the third lowest-mass transiting exoplanet to be discovered from a wide-field ground-based search, and with a mass of it is approximately halfway between the masses of Neptune and Saturn. However, HATS-8b has a radius of , resulting in a bulk density of just . The metallicity of the host star is super-solar ( = ), providing evidence against the idea that low-density exoplanets form from metal-poor environments. The low density and large radius of HATS-8b results in an atmospheric scale height of almost 1000 km, and in addition to this there is an excellent reference star of nearly equal magnitude at just 19″ separation in the sky. These factors make HATS-8b an exciting target for future atmospheric characterization studies, particularly for long-slit transmission spectroscopy.

We report the discovery of HATS-13b and HATS-14b, which are two hot-Jupiter transiting planets discovered by the HATSouth survey. The host stars are quite similar to each other (HATS-13: V = 13.9 mag, Mz.ast; = 0.96 M⊙, Rz.ast; = 0.89 R⊙, Teff ≈ 5500 K, [Fe/H] = 0.05; HATS-14: V = 13.8 mag, Mz.ast; = 0.97 M⊙, Rz.ast; = 0.93 R⊙, Teff ≈ 5350 K, [Fe/H] = 0.33) and both the planets orbit around them with a period of ~3 days and a separation of ~0.04 au. However, even though they are irradiated in a similar way, the physical characteristics of the two planets are very different. HATS-13b, with a mass of Mp = 0.543 ± 0.072 MJ and a radius of Rp = 1.212 ± 0.035 RJ, appears as an inflated planet, while HATS-14b, having a mass of Mp = 1.071 ± 0.070 MJ and a radius of Rp = 1.039 ± 0.032 RJ, is only slightly larger in radius than Jupiter.

We report the discovery of two transiting extrasolar planets by the HATSouth survey. HATS-9b orbits an old (10.8 ± 1.5 Gyr) V = 13.3 G dwarf star with a period days. The host star has a mass of 1.03 M⊙, radius of 1.503 R⊙, and effective temperature 5366 ± 70 K. The planetary companion has a mass of 0.837 Mj and radius of 1.065 Rj, yielding a mean density of 0.85g cm-3. HATS-10b orbits a V = 13.1 G dwarf star with a period days. The host star has a mass of 1.1 M⊙, radius of 1.11 R⊙, and effective temperature 5880 ± 120 K. The planetary companion has a mass of 0.53 and radius of 0.97 , yielding a mean density of 0.7 g cm-3. Both planets are compact in comparison with planets receiving similar irradiation from their host stars and lie in the nominal coordinates of Field 7 of K2, but only HATS-9b falls on working silicon. Future characterization of HATS-9b with the exquisite photometric precision of the Kepler telescope may provide measurements of its reflected light signature.

We report the discovery by the HATSouth network of HATS-7b, a transiting Super-Neptune with a mass of 0.120 ± 0.012 MJ, a radius of 0.563-0.034 +0.046 RJ, and an orbital period of 3.1853 days. The host star is a moderately bright (V = 13.340 ± 0.010 mag, KS = 10.976 ± 0.026 mag) K dwarf star with a mass of 0.849 ± 0.027 M⊙, a radius of 0.815-0.035 +0.049 R⊙, and a metallicity of [Fe H] = +0.250 ± 0.080. The star is photometrically quiet to within the precision of the HATSouth measurements, has low RV jitter, and shows no evidence for chromospheric activity in its spectrum. HATS-7b is the second smallest radius planet discovered by a wide-field ground-based transit survey, and one of only a handful of Neptune-size planets with mass and radius determined to 10% precision. Theoretical modeling of HATS-7b yields a hydrogen-helium fraction of 18 ± 4% (rock-iron core and H2-He envelope), or 9 ± 4% (ice core and H2-He envelope), i.e., it has a composition broadly similar to that of Uranus and Neptune, and very different from that of Saturn, which has 75% of its mass in H2-He. Based on a sample of transiting exoplanets with accurately (<20%) determined parameters, we establish approximate powerlaw relations for the envelopes of the mass-density distribution of exoplanets. HATS-7b, which, together with the recently discovered HATS-8b, is one of the first two transiting super-Neptunes discovered in the Southern sky, is a prime target for additional follow-up observations with Southern hemisphere facilities to characterize the atmospheres of Super-Neptunes (which we define as objects with mass greater than that of Neptune, and smaller than halfway between that of Neptune and Saturn, i.e., 0.054 MJ < Mp < 0.18 MJ).