XO-2b: a Prograde Planet with a Negligible Eccentricity, and an Additional Radial Velocity Variation

Abstract

We present precise radial velocities of XO-2 taken with the Subaru HDS, covering two transits of XO-2b with an interval of nearly two years. The data suggest that the orbital eccentricity of XO-2b is consistent with zero within 2$σ$ ($e=0.045\pm0.024$) and the orbit of XO-2b is prograde (the sky-projected spin-orbit alignment angle $λ=10^{\circ}\pm72^{\circ}$). The poor constraint of $λ$ is due to a small impact parameter (the orbital inclination of XO-2b is almost 90$^{\circ}$). The data also provide an improved estimate of the mass of XO-2b as $0.62\pm0.02$ $M_{\rm Jup}$. We also find a long-term radial velocity variation in this system. Further radial velocity measurements are necessary to specify the cause of this additional variation.

6 pages, 4 figures, 2 tables, PASJ Letters in press