We constrain the true spin-orbit alignment of the KOI-89 system by numerically fitting the two \emph{Kepler} photometric lightcurves produced by transiting planets KOI-89.01 and KOI-89.02. The two planets have periods of 84.69 days and 207.58 days, respectively. We find that the two bodies are low-density giant planets with radii 0.45±0.03Rjup and 0.43±0.05Rjup and spin-orbit misalignments 72∘±3∘ and 73−5∘+11, respectively. Via dynamic stability tests we demonstrate the general trend of higher system stability with the two planets close to mutual alignment and estimate their coalignment angle to 20∘±20∘ -- i.e. the planets are misaligned with the star but may be aligned with each other. From these results, we limit KOI-89's misalignment mechanisms to star-disk-binary interactions, disk warping via planet-disk interactions, planet-planet scattering, Kozai resonance, or internal gravity waves.
@article{arxiv.1509.07930,
title = {Spin-Orbit Misalignment of Two-Planet-System KOI-89 Via Gravity Darkening},
author = {John P. Ahlers and Jason W. Barnes and Rory Barnes},
journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:1509.07930},
year = {2015}
}
Comments
9 pages, 7 figures, 3 tables, accepted in The Astrophysical Journal