WASP-16b: A new Jupiter-like planet transiting a southern solar analog

We report the discovery from WASP-South of a new Jupiter-like extrasolar planet, WASP-16b, which transits its solar analog host star every 3.12 days. Analysis of the transit photometry and radial velocity spectroscopic data leads to a planet with R_p = 1.008 ± 0.071 R_Jup and M_p =0.855 ± 0.059 M_Jup , orbiting a host star with R_∗ = 0.946 ± 0.054 R_⊙ and M_∗ = 1.022 ± 0.101 M_⊙ .Comparison of the high resolution stellar spectrum with synthetic spectra and stellar evolution models indicates the host star is a near-solar metallicity ([Fe/H]= 0.01 ± 0.10) solar analog (Teff = 5700 ± 150 K, log g= 4.5 ± 0.2) of intermediate age (τ = 2.3^+5.8_−2.2 Gyr).