Transiting exoplanets from the CoRoT space mission X. CoRoT-10b: a giant planet in a 13.24 day eccentric orbit

Context. The space telescope CoRoT searches for transiting extrasolar planets by continuously monitoring the optical flux of thousands of stars in several fields of view. Aims. We report the discovery of CoRoT-10b, a giant planet on a highly eccentric orbit (e = 0.53 +/- 0.04) revolving in 13.24 days around a faint (V = 15.22) metal-rich K1V star. Methods. We used CoRoT photometry, radial velocity observations taken with the HARPS spectrograph, and UVES spectra of the parent star to derive the orbital, stellar, and planetary parameters. Results. We derive a radius of the planet of 0.97 +/- 0.07 R(Jup) and a mass of 2.75 +/- 0.16 M(Jup). The bulk density,rho(p) = 3.70 +/- 0.83 g cm(-3), is similar to 2.8 that of Jupiter. The core of CoRoT-10b could contain up to 240 M(circle plus) of heavy elements. Moving along its eccentric orbit, the planet experiences a 10.6-fold variation in insolation. Owing to the long circularisation time, tau(circ) > 7 Gyr, a resonant perturber is not required to excite and maintain the high eccentricity of CoRoT-10b.

Spanish Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovacion[ESP2007-65480-C02-02]

Deutsches Zentrum fur Luft- und Raumfahrt, DLR[50OW0204]

Deutsches Zentrum fur Luft- und Raumfahrt, DLR[50OW0603]

Deutsches Zentrum fur Luft- und Raumfahrt, DLR[50QP0701]

Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique - CNRS/INSU

ANR - French National Research Agency[ANR-08-JCJC-0102-01]

ESA PRODEX

Swiss NSF National Science Foundation

Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique - CNRS/CNES[07/0879-Corot]

STFC[ST/G002266]

Belgian Science Policy Office