The secondary transit of the hot Jupiter WASP-121b at 2 $μ$m

Abstract: Ground-based observations of the secondary transit in the 2MASS K band are presented for the hot Jupiter WASP-121b. These are the first occultation observations of an extrasolar planet carried out with an instrument attached to a 1m-class telescope (SMARTS' 1.3 m). We find a highly significant transit depth of (0.228 +/- 0.023)%. Together with the Hubble Space Telescope near infrared emission spectrum, current data support more involved atmosphere models with species producing emission/absorption features, rather than simple smooth black body emission. Analysis of the time difference between the primary and secondary transits and the durations of these events yield an eccentricity of e=0.0207 +/- 0.0153, which is consistent with the earlier estimates of low/zero eccentricity, but with a smaller error. Together with the existing K-band data on other systems, WASP-121b lends further support to the lack of efficient heat transport between the day and night sides for nearly all Hot Jupiters.