Detection of the nearest Jupiter analogue in radial velocity and astrometry data

• The presence of Jupiter is crucial to the architecture of the Solar system and models underline this to be a generic feature of planetary systems. We find the detection of the difference between the position and motion recorded by the contemporary astrometric satellite Gaia and its precursor Hipparcos can be used to discover Jupiter-like planets. We illustrate how observations of the nearby star Indi A giving astrometric and radial velocity data can be used to independently find the orbit of its suspected companion. The radial velocity and astrometric data provide complementary detections which allow for a much stronger solution than either technique would provide individually. We quantify Indi A b as the closest Jupiterlike exoplanet with a mass of 3 MJup on a slightly eccentric orbit with an orbital period of 45 yr. While other long-period exoplanets have been discovered, Indi A b provides a wellconstrained mass and along with the well-studied brown dwarf binary in orbit around Indi A means that the system provides a benchmark case for our understanding of the formation of gas giant planets and brown dwarfs.

Subject headings

NATURVETENSKAP  -- Fysik -- Astronomi, astrofysik och kosmologi (hsv//swe)

NATURAL SCIENCES  -- Physical Sciences -- Astronomy, Astrophysics and Cosmology (hsv//eng)

Keyword

methods: data analysis

methods: statistical

techniques: radial velocities astrometry

stars: individual: epsilon Indi A

Publication and Content Type

ref (subject category)

art (subject category)