TrES-1b

Key takeaways

TrES-1b belongs to astronomy; place it in that map before memorising details.
Learn the definition first, then one example that makes the definition concrete.
Connect TrES-1b to a quantity you can measure, compute or draw — that is where exam questions come from.
Reproduce the core statement of TrES-1b from memory before moving on to harder problems.

Reference excerpt

TrES-1b is an extrasolar planet approximately 523 light-years away in the constellation of Lyra (the Lyre). The planet's mass and radius indicate that it is a Jovian planet with a similar bulk composition to Jupiter. Unlike Jupiter, but similar to many other planets detected around other stars, TrES-1 is located very close to its star, and belongs to the class of planets known as hot Jupiters. The planet was discovered orbiting around GSC 02652-01324 (an orange dwarf star).

Detection and discovery TrES-1b was discovered by the Trans-Atlantic Exoplanet Survey by detecting the transit of the planet across its parent star using a 4-inch-diameter (100 mm) telescope. The discovery was confirmed by the Keck Observatory using the radial velocity method, which allowed its mass to be determined.

Transit On March 22, 2005, Astronomers using NASA's Spitzer Space Telescope took advantage of this fact to directly capture the infrared light of two previously detected planets orbiting outside the Solar System. Their findings revealed the temperatures and orbits of the planets.

Upcoming Spitzer observations using a variety of infrared wavelengths may provide more information about the planets' winds and atmospheric compositions. It enabled determination of TrES-1's temperature, which is in excess of 1000 K (1340 °F). The planet's Bond albedo was found to be 0.31 ± 0.14. In the infrared panel, the colors reflect what our eyes might see if we could retune them to the invisible, infrared portion of the light spectrum. The hot star is less bright in infrared light than in visible and appears fainter. The warm planet peaks in infrared light, so is shown brighter. Their hues represent relative differences in temperature. Because the star is hotter than the planet, and because hotter objects give off more blue light than red, the star is depicted in blue, and the planet, red. The overall look of the planet is inspired by theoretical models of hot, gas giant planets. These "hot Jupiters" are similar to Jupiter in composition and mass, but are expected to look quite different at such high temperatures.

Radial velocity The transit light-curve signature in the course of the TrES multi-site transiting planet survey, and confirmed the planetary nature of the companion via multicolor photometry and precise radial velocity measurements. With this, the planet has an orbital period similar to that of HD 209458 b, but about twice as long as those of the Optical Gravitational Lensing Experiment (OGLE) transiting planets. Its mass is similar to that of HD 209458 b, but its radius is significantly smaller and fits the theoretical models without the need for an additional source of heat deep in the atmosphere, as has been invoked by some investigators for HD 209458 b.

Rotation The spin-orbit angle using the Rossiter–McLaughlin effect was measured to be +30±21° in 2007.

Physical characteristics Hubble might find water in TrES-1, and it would give a much more precise measurement of the planet's size, and even allow us to search for moons. A satellite is unlikely however, given the likely history and current orbital configuration for the planet, the research team concluded. There are only 11 exomoon candidates around 8 exoplanets, but some researchers have considered that such satellites would be logical places for life to exist around giant gaseous worlds that otherwise could not be expected to support biology. Models indicate that TrES-1 has undergone significant tidal heating in the past due to its eccentric orbit, but this does not appear to have inflated the planet's radius.

See also Trans-Atlantic Exoplanet Survey 51 Pegasi b HD 209458 b Hot Jupiter TrES-2b

References

External links Media related to TrES-1 at Wikimedia Commons

AAVSO Variable Star Of The Season. Fall 2004: The Transiting Exoplanets HD 209458 and TrES-1 Archived 2004-10-28 at the Wayback Machine "Network of Small Telescopes Discovers Distant Planet". Lowell Observatory. Archived from the original on 2008-04-15. Retrieved 2008-10-15. "TrES-1". Catalogue d'exoplanètes (in French). Retrieved 2008-06-21. "CHEMICAL COMPOSITION OF THE PLANET-HARBORING STAR TrES-1". The American Astronomical Society. Retrieved 2008-10-15. Britt, Robert Roy (2005-03-22). "Glow of Alien Planets Detected in 'Milestone' Observations". SPACE.com. Retrieved 2008-06-21. "Tiny "David" Telescope Finds "Goliath" Planet". Harvard-Smithsonian. Center for Astrophysics. 2004-08-24. Retrieved 2008-06-21.

Illustrations

Worked examples

Example 1 — a first encounter with TrES-1b

Start with the simplest possible case. Write down what TrES-1b claims or describes in one sentence, then invent the smallest concrete situation in which that sentence is true. In astronomy, the smallest case is usually a single object, a single equation or a single measurement. Check that every symbol or term in your sentence has a meaning in that case.

Example 2 — changing one variable

Take the situation from Example 1 and change exactly one quantity: double it, halve it, or set it to zero. Predict what should happen to TrES-1b before you calculate. Comparing your prediction with the result is the fastest way to find out whether you understand the idea or only the words.

Example 3 — an exam-style question

Typical questions about TrES-1b ask you to (a) state it precisely, (b) apply it to given data, and (c) explain a limitation. Practise writing all three answers in under five minutes; the third part is what separates a full-mark answer from an average one.

Applications of TrES-1b

In research: TrES-1b appears in astronomy research whenever the underlying quantities have to be modelled precisely. Papers usually cite it as a starting assumption and then explore where it breaks down.
In technology and industry: Engineering practice reuses TrES-1b in design rules, simulations and safety margins. Knowing the idea lets you read a specification sheet and understand why the numbers look the way they do.
In the classroom: TrES-1b is common in secondary-school and first-year university syllabi. It links to neighbouring topics Exoplanets discovered in 2004, Giant planets, Hot Jupiters, so understanding it makes those chapters shorter.
In everyday life: Look for TrES-1b outside the textbook — in sport, cooking, traffic, electronics or the sky above you. An example you found yourself is remembered far longer than one you were given.

How to study TrES-1b in 20 minutes

Read the reference excerpt below once, without taking notes.
Close the page and write down what TrES-1b means in your own words.
Compare your version with the excerpt and mark what you missed.
Work through the three examples above with pen and paper.
Explain TrES-1b out loud to somebody else — or to Teacher Smith in the lgStudy chat.

Frequently asked questions

What is TrES-1b in simple terms?

TrES-1b is an extrasolar planet approximately 523 light-years away in the constellation of Lyra (the Lyre). The planet's mass and radius indicate that it is a Jovian planet with a similar bulk composition to Jupiter.

Why does TrES-1b matter?

Because it connects several astronomy ideas at once: it gives you a definition you can apply, a quantity you can calculate, and a way to check whether a result is plausible.

How should I study TrES-1b?

Read the excerpt, restate it from memory, then work through the examples and applications listed on this page. The five-step study plan above takes about twenty minutes.

What does this page cover?

It gives you a compact reference excerpt plus original lgStudy explanations, examples, applications and study material on TrES-1b.