TY - JOUR
T1 - Evidence of a Clear Atmosphere for WASP-62b: The Only Known Transiting Gas Giant in the JWST Continuous Viewing Zone
AU - Alam, Munazza K.
AU - López-Morales, Mercedes
AU - MacDonald, Ryan J.
AU - Nikolov, Nikolay
AU - Kirk, James
AU - Goyal, Jayesh M.
AU - Sing, David K.
AU - Wakeford, Hannah R.
AU - Rathcke, Alexander D.
AU - Deming, Drake L.
AU - Sanz-Forcada, Jorge
AU - Lewis, Nikole K.
AU - Barstow, Joanna K.
AU - Mikal-Evans, Thomas
AU - Buchhave, Lars A.
PY - 2021
Y1 - 2021
N2 - Exoplanets with cloud-free, haze-free atmospheres at the pressures
probed by transmission spectroscopy represent a valuable opportunity for
detailed atmospheric characterization and precise chemical abundance
constraints. We present the first optical to infrared (0.3−5 μm)
transmission spectrum of the hot Jupiter WASP-62b, measured with
Hubble/STIS and Spitzer/IRAC. The spectrum is characterized by a 5.1σ detection of Na i absorption at 0.59 μm,
in which the pressure-broadened wings of the Na D-lines are observed
from space for the first time. A spectral feature at 0.4 μm is tentatively attributed to SiH at 2.1σ
confidence. Our retrieval analyses are consistent with a cloud-free
atmosphere without significant contamination from stellar
heterogeneities. We simulate James Webb Space Telescope (JWST)
observations, for a combination of instrument modes, to assess the
atmospheric characterization potential of WASP-62b. We demonstrate that
JWST can conclusively detect Na, H2O, FeH, NH3, CO, CO2, CH4,
and SiH within the scope of its Early Release Science (ERS) program. As
the only transiting giant planet currently known in the JWST Continuous
Viewing Zone, WASP-62b could prove a benchmark giant exoplanet for
detailed atmospheric characterization in the James Webb era.
AB - Exoplanets with cloud-free, haze-free atmospheres at the pressures
probed by transmission spectroscopy represent a valuable opportunity for
detailed atmospheric characterization and precise chemical abundance
constraints. We present the first optical to infrared (0.3−5 μm)
transmission spectrum of the hot Jupiter WASP-62b, measured with
Hubble/STIS and Spitzer/IRAC. The spectrum is characterized by a 5.1σ detection of Na i absorption at 0.59 μm,
in which the pressure-broadened wings of the Na D-lines are observed
from space for the first time. A spectral feature at 0.4 μm is tentatively attributed to SiH at 2.1σ
confidence. Our retrieval analyses are consistent with a cloud-free
atmosphere without significant contamination from stellar
heterogeneities. We simulate James Webb Space Telescope (JWST)
observations, for a combination of instrument modes, to assess the
atmospheric characterization potential of WASP-62b. We demonstrate that
JWST can conclusively detect Na, H2O, FeH, NH3, CO, CO2, CH4,
and SiH within the scope of its Early Release Science (ERS) program. As
the only transiting giant planet currently known in the JWST Continuous
Viewing Zone, WASP-62b could prove a benchmark giant exoplanet for
detailed atmospheric characterization in the James Webb era.
U2 - 10.3847/2041-8213/abd18e
DO - 10.3847/2041-8213/abd18e
M3 - Journal article
SN - 2041-8205
VL - 906
JO - Astrophysical Journal Letters
JF - Astrophysical Journal Letters
IS - 2
M1 - L10
ER -