Proxima Centauri b is not a transiting exoplanet. Issue 1 (11th May 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Jenkins, James S; Harrington, Joseph; Challener, Ryan C; Kurtovic, Nicolás T; Ramirez, Ricardo; Peña, Jose; McIntyre, Kathleen J; Himes, Michael D; Rodríguez, Eloy; Anglada-Escudé, Guillem; Dreizler, Stefan; Ofir, Aviv; Peña Rojas, Pablo A; Ribas, Ignasi; Rojo, Patricio; Kipping, David; Butler, R Paul; Amado, Pedro J; Rodríguez-López, Cristina; Kempton, Eliza M-R; Palle, Enric; Murgas, Felipe
• Is Part Of: Monthly notices of the Royal Astronomical Society. Volume 487:Issue 1(2019)
• Page Start: 268
• Page End: 274
• Publication Date: 2019-05-11
• Subjects: stars: activity -- planetary systems; Astronomy -- Periodicals; Periodicals; 520.5
• DOI: 10.1093/mnras/stz1268
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0035-8711

Abstract

Abstract: We report Spitzer Space Telescope observations during predicted transits of the exoplanet Proxima Centauri b. As the nearest terrestrial habitable-zone planet we will ever discover, any potential transit of Proxima b would place strong constraints on its radius, bulk density, and atmosphere. Subsequent transmission spectroscopy and secondary-eclipse measurements could then probe the atmospheric chemistry, physical processes, and orbit, including a search for biosignatures. However, our photometric results rule out planetary transits at the 200 ppm level at 4.5 $\mu$ m, yielding a 3σ upper radius limit of 0.4 R⊕ (Earth radii). Previous claims of possible transits from optical ground- and space-based photometry were likely correlated noise in the data from Proxima Centauri's frequent flaring. Our study indicates dramatically reduced stellar activity at near-to-mid infrared wavelengths, compared to the optical. Proxima b is an ideal target for space-based infrared telescopes, if their instruments can be configured to handle Proxima's brightness.