Detecting companions to extrasolar planets using mutual events
arXiv:astro-ph/0703609 · doi:10.1051/0004-6361:20066111
Abstract
We investigate a new approach to the detection of companions to extrasolar planets beyond the transit method. We discuss the possibility of the existence of binary planets. We develop a method based on the imaging of a planet-companion as an unresolved system (but resolved from its parent star). It makes use of planet-companion mutual phenomena, namely mutual transits and mutual shadows. We show that companions can be detected and their radius measured down to lunar sizes.
6 pages, 7 figures