* Astronomy

Title: WASP-40b: independent discovery of the 0.6-Mjup transiting exoplanet HAT-P-27b
Authors: D.R. Anderson, S.C.C. Barros, I. Boisse, F. Bouchy, A. Collier-Cameron, F. Faedi, G. Hebrard, C. Hellier, M. Lendl, C. Moutou, D. Pollacco, A. Santerne, B. Smalley, A.M.S. Smith, I. Todd, A.H.M.J. Triaud, R.G. West, P.J. Wheatley, J. Bento, B. Enoch, M. Gillon, P.F.L. Maxted, J. McCormac, D. Queloz, E.K. Simpson, I. Skillen

From WASP photometry and SOPHIE radial velocities we report the discovery of WASP-40b (= HAT-P-27b), a 0.6-Mjup planet that transits its 12th magnitude host star every 3.04 d. The host star is of late-G or early-K type and likely has an above-Solar metallicity, with [Fe/H] = 0.14 ±0.11. The planet's mass and radius are typical of the known hot Jupiters, thus adding another system to the apparent pileup of transiting planets with periods near 3 to 4 d. Our parameters match those of the recent HATnet announcement of the same planet, thus giving confidence in the techniques used. We report a possible indication of stellar activity in the host star.

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