Publication Date:
2015-10-02
Description:
We report the discovery of a possible planet in microlensing event MOA-2010-BLG-353. This event was only recognized as having a planetary signal after the microlensing event had finished, and following a systematic analysis of all archival data for binary lens microlensing events collected to date. Data for event MOA-2010-BLG-353 were only recorded by the high-cadence observations of the OGLE and MOA survey groups. If we make the assumptions that the probability of the lens star hosting a planet of the measured mass ratio is independent of the lens star mass or distance, and that the source star is in the Galactic bulge, a probability density analysis indicates the planetary system comprises a $0.9^{+1.6}_{-0.53}$ M Saturn mass planet orbiting a $0.18^{+0.32}_{-0.11}$ M red dwarf star, $6.43^{+1.09}_{-1.15}$ kpc away. The projected separation of the planet from the host star is $1.72^{+0.56}_{-0.48}$ au. Under the additional assumption that the source is on the far side of the Galactic bulge, the probability density analysis favours a lens system comprising a slightly lighter planet.
Print ISSN:
0035-8711
Electronic ISSN:
1365-2966
Topics:
Physics