An orbital period of 0.94 days for the hot-Jupiter planet WASP-18b

Coel Hellier (), D. R. Anderson, A. Collier Cameron, M. Gillon, L. Hebb, P. F. L. Maxted, D. Queloz, B. Smalley, A. H. M. J. Triaud, R. G. West, D. M. Wilson, S. J. Bentley, B. Enoch, K. Horne, J. Irwin, T. A. Lister, M. Mayor, N. Parley, F. Pepe, D. L. Pollacco, D. Segransan, S. Udry and P. J. Wheatley
Additional contact information
Coel Hellier: Astrophysics Group, Keele University, Staffordshire, ST5 5BG, UK
D. R. Anderson: Astrophysics Group, Keele University, Staffordshire, ST5 5BG, UK
A. Collier Cameron: School of Physics and Astronomy, University of St Andrews, North Haugh, Fife, KY16 9SS, UK
M. Gillon: Observatoire de Genève, Université de Genève, 51 ch. des Maillettes, 1290 Sauverny, Switzerland
L. Hebb: School of Physics and Astronomy, University of St Andrews, North Haugh, Fife, KY16 9SS, UK
P. F. L. Maxted: Astrophysics Group, Keele University, Staffordshire, ST5 5BG, UK
D. Queloz: Observatoire de Genève, Université de Genève, 51 ch. des Maillettes, 1290 Sauverny, Switzerland
B. Smalley: Astrophysics Group, Keele University, Staffordshire, ST5 5BG, UK
A. H. M. J. Triaud: Observatoire de Genève, Université de Genève, 51 ch. des Maillettes, 1290 Sauverny, Switzerland
R. G. West: University of Leicester, Leicester, LE1 7RH, UK
D. M. Wilson: Astrophysics Group, Keele University, Staffordshire, ST5 5BG, UK
S. J. Bentley: Astrophysics Group, Keele University, Staffordshire, ST5 5BG, UK
B. Enoch: School of Physics and Astronomy, University of St Andrews, North Haugh, Fife, KY16 9SS, UK
K. Horne: School of Physics and Astronomy, University of St Andrews, North Haugh, Fife, KY16 9SS, UK
J. Irwin: Harvard University, 60 Garden Street, MS 10, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02138, USA
T. A. Lister: Las Cumbres Observatory, 6740 Cortona Dr. Suite 102, Santa Barbara, California 93117, USA
M. Mayor: Observatoire de Genève, Université de Genève, 51 ch. des Maillettes, 1290 Sauverny, Switzerland
N. Parley: School of Physics and Astronomy, University of St Andrews, North Haugh, Fife, KY16 9SS, UK
F. Pepe: Observatoire de Genève, Université de Genève, 51 ch. des Maillettes, 1290 Sauverny, Switzerland
D. L. Pollacco: Astrophysics Research Centre, School of Mathematics and Physics, Queen’s University, University Road, Belfast, BT7 1NN, UK
D. Segransan: Observatoire de Genève, Université de Genève, 51 ch. des Maillettes, 1290 Sauverny, Switzerland
S. Udry: Observatoire de Genève, Université de Genève, 51 ch. des Maillettes, 1290 Sauverny, Switzerland
P. J. Wheatley: University of Warwick, Coventry, CV4 7AL, UK

Nature, 2009, vol. 460, issue 7259, 1098-1100

Abstract: Hot Jupiter WASP-18b: a too-close encounter 'Hot Jupiter' extrasolar planets are thought to have formed at some distance from their host stars and to have migrated inwards at a later date. These planets provide new perspectives on the evolution of planetary systems, and the discovery of WASP-18b, the closest-orbiting and most extreme hot Jupiter yet, provides a glimpse of what may be a planet nearing the end of its life. With a close orbit, high mass (ten times that of Jupiter), and brief (0.94-day) orbital period, WASP-18b has the strongest tidal interaction of any known star–planet system. We appear to be seeing WASP-18b in a rare and short-lived state as it spirals towards its host star, destined to be destroyed within the host star's lifetime. Alternatively, the tidal dissipation this system — and perhaps other hot Jupiters — must be much weaker than that in our Solar System.

Date: 2009
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DOI: 10.1038/nature08245

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