Defining and cataloging exoplanets: the exoplanet.eu database

¹ Observatoire de Paris, LUTh-CNRS, UMR 8102, 92190 Meudon, France
e-mail: Jean.Schneider@obspm.fr
² Observatoire de Paris, Division Informatique de l’Observatoire, VO-Paris Data Centre, UMS2201, CNRS/INSU, France
³ Observatoire de Paris, LERMA, UMR 8112, 61 Av. de l’Observatoire, 75014 Paris, France
⁴ Sternberg Astronomical Institute, Moscow State University, 13 Universitetsky prospect, Moscow 119992, Russia

Received: 14 February 2011
Accepted: 6 June 2011

Abstract

We describe an online database for extrasolar planetary-mass candidates, which is updated regularly as new data are available. We first discuss criteria for inclusion of objects in the catalog: “definition” of a planet and several aspects of the confidence level of planet candidates. We are led to point out the contradiction between the sharpness of criteria for belonging to a catalog and the fuzziness of the confidence level for an object to be a planet. We then describe the different tables of extrasolar planetary systems, including unconfirmed candidates (which will ultimately be confirmed, or not, by direct imaging). It also provides online tools: histograms of planet and host star data, cross-correlations between these parameters, and some Virtual Observatory services. Future evolutions of the database are presented.