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Centro de Astrofísica da Universidade do Porto

Statistical Properties of Exoplanets

S. Udry, N. C. Santos

Abstract
Since the detection a decade ago of the planetary companion of 51 Peg, more than 200 extrasolar planets have been unveiled, mostly by radial-velocity measurements but also in a few cases by photometric transit observations or in microlensing experiments. They present a wide variety of characteristics such as large masses with small orbital separations, high eccentricities, period resonances in multiplanet systems, etc. Meaningful features of the statistical distributions of orbital parameters for giant planets or of parent stellar properties have emerged.We discuss them in the context of the constraints they provide for planet-formation models, and in comparison to Neptune-mass planets in short-period orbits recently detected by radial-velocity surveys. Finally, the role of radial-velocity follow-up measurements of transit candidates is emphasized. Planetary physical parameters are determined, bringing important constraints for inner planet structure models.

Annual Review of Astronomy and Astrophysics
Volume 45, Page 397
September 2007

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Institute of Astrophysics and Space Sciences

Institute of Astrophysics and Space Sciences (IA) is a new but long anticipated research infrastructure with a national dimension. It embodies a bold but feasible vision for the development of Astronomy, Astrophysics and Space Sciences in Portugal, taking full advantage and fully realizing the potential created by the national membership of the European Space Agency (ESA) and the European Southern Observatory (ESO). IA resulted from the merging the two most prominent research units in the field in Portugal: the Centre for Astrophysics of the University of Porto (CAUP) and the Center for Astronomy and Astrophysics of the University of Lisbon (CAAUL). It currently hosts more than two-thirds of all active researchers working in Space Sciences in Portugal, and is responsible for an even greater fraction of the national productivity in international ISI journals in the area of Space Sciences. This is the scientific area with the highest relative impact factor (1.65 times above the international average) and the field with the highest average number of citations per article for Portugal.

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