Near-Infrared Variability in the 2MASS Calibration Fields: A Search for Planetary Transit Candidates

March 2008 • 2008ApJS..175..191P

Authors • Plavchan, Peter • Jura, M. • Kirkpatrick, J. Davy • Cutri, Roc M. • Gallagher, S. C.

Abstract • The Two Micron All Sky Survey (2MASS) photometric calibration observations cover ~6 square degrees on the sky in 35 "calibration fields", each sampled in nominal photometric conditions between 562 and 3692 times during the 4 years of the 2MASS mission. We compile a catalog of variables from the calibration observations to search for M dwarfs transited by extrasolar planets. We present our methods for measuring periodic and nonperiodic flux variability. From 7554 sources with apparent K_s magnitudes between 5.6 and 16.1, we identify 247 variables, including extragalactic variables and 23 periodic variables. We have discovered three M dwarf eclipsing systems, including two candidates for transiting extrasolar planets.

Links

• PREPRINT http://arxiv.org/abs/0709.1182
• NED https://ned.ipac.caltech.edu/uri/NED::InRefcode/2008ApJS..175..191P
• ELECTR https://doi.org/10.1086%2F523644
• SIMBAD http://simbad.u-strasbg.fr/simbo.pl?bibcode=2008ApJS..175..191P
• PDF https://stacks.iop.org/0067-0049/175/191/pdf
• DATA http://cdsarc.cds.unistra.fr/viz-bin/cat/J/ApJS/175/191
• DATA https://cdsarc.cds.unistra.fr/viz-bin/cat/J/ApJS/175/191
• DATA https://irsa.ipac.caltech.edu/bibdata/2008/P/2008ApJS..175..191P.html