摘要：A low-amplitude periodic signal in the radial velocity (RV) time series of Barnard’s Star was recently attributed to a planetary companion with a minimum mass of ~3.2M⊕at an orbital period of ~233 days. The relatively long orbital period and the proximity of Barnard’s Star to the Sun raises the question whether the true mass of the planet can be constrained by accurate astrometric measurements. By combining the assumption of an isotropic probability distribution of the orbital orientation with the RV-analysis results, we calculated the probability density function of the astrometric signature of the planet. In addition, we reviewed the astrometric capabilities and limitations of current and upcoming astrometric instruments. We conclude thatGaiaand theHubbleSpace Telescope (HST) are currently the best-suited instruments to perform the astrometric follow-up observations. Taking the optimistic estimate of their single-epoch accuracy to be ~30μas, we find a probability of ~10% to detect the astrometric signature of Barnard’s Star b with ~50 individual-epoch observations. In case of no detection, the implied mass upper limit would be ~8M⊕, which would place the planet in the super-Earth mass range. In the next decade, observations with the Wide-Field Infrared Space Telescope (WFIRST) may increase the prospects of measuring the true mass of the planet to ~99%.
关键词：Key wordsenastrometrystars: individual: Barnard’s Starplanetary systems
