X-Ray Observations of Planetary Transits: Secondary Eclipse

The effect of stellar Xrays on their nearby gasgiant planets appears to besignificant. The Xrays have been cited at the cause of excess heating of theplanet which can induce mass loss. Further, it has been argued that the magneticfields of the two bodies can interact. Recent statistical analysis of starspossessing hotJupiters indicates that their activity could be enhanced by asmuch as a factor of 2 and observations in Ca II HK and Xray phased to theplanetary orbital periods show that there could be in situ Xray enhancements ofas much as 50%. This makes it possible to detect when the interacting zone movesbehind the star. We propose to observe the secondary eclipse of two nearby (<20pc.) systems HD 189733 and GJ 436. truncated!, Please see actual data for full text [truncated!, Please see actual data for full text]