2014/03/04 by Brett C. Addison, Brett Addison, Addison, Brett C. +12
Physics and Astronomy · #Astro and Planetary Science #Astronomy and Astrophysical Research #Earth and Planetary Astrophysics (astro-ph.EP) #FOS: Physical sciences #Stellar, planetary, and galactic studies #astro-ph.EP
paper · pdf · doi:10.48550/arxiv.1403.0652
Accepted for publication in the peer-reviewed proceedings of the 13th annual Australian Space Science Conference
arxiv created 2014/03/04 · openalex publication_date 2014/03/04 · arxiv updated 2014/03/05 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/28
The discovery of giant planets orbiting close to their host stars was one of the most unexpected results of early exoplanetary science. Astronomers have since found that a significant fraction of these 'Hot Jupiters' move on orbits substantially misaligned with the rotation axis of their host star. We recently reported the measurement of the spin-orbit misalignment for WASP-79b by using data from the 3.9 m Anglo-Australian Telescope. Contemporary models of planetary formation produce planets on nearly coplanar orbits with respect to their host star's equator. We discuss the mechanisms which could drive planets into spin-orbit misalignment. The most commonly proposed being the Kozai mechanism, which requires the presence of a distant, massive companion to the star-planet system. We therefore describe a volume-limited direct-imaging survey of Hot Jupiter systems with measured spin-orbit angles, to search for the presence of stellar companions and test the Kozai hypothesis.