ACCESS: A Visual to Near-infrared Spectrum of the Hot Jupiter WASP-43b with Evidence of H₂O, but No Evidence of Na or K

Abstract

We present a new ground-based visual transmission spectrum of the hot Jupiter WASP-43b, obtained as part of the ACCESS Survey. The spectrum was derived from four transits observed between 2015 and 2018, with combined wavelength coverage between 5300 and 9000 Å and an average photometric precision of 708 ppm in 230 Å bins. We perform an atmospheric retrieval of our transmission spectrum combined with literature Hubble Space Telescope/WFC3 observations to search for the presence of clouds/hazes as well as Na, K, Hα, and H₂O planetary absorption and stellar spot contamination over a combined spectral range of 5318-16420 Å. We do not detect a statistically significant presence of Na I or K I alkali lines, or Hα in the atmosphere of WASP-43b. We find that the observed transmission spectrum can be best explained by a combination of heterogeneities on the photosphere of the host star and a clear planetary atmosphere with H₂O. This model yields a log evidence of 8.26 ± 0.42 higher than a flat (featureless) spectrum. In particular, the observations marginally favor the presence of large, low-contrast spots over the four ACCESS transit epochs with an average covering fraction {f}_het}={0.27}_-0.16^+0.42 and temperature contrast ΔT = 132 K ± 132 K. Within the planet’s atmosphere, we recover a log H₂O volume mixing ratio of -{2.78}_-1.47^+1.38, which is consistent with previous H₂O abundance determinations for this planet.