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Astudillo-Defru, N., Cloutier, R., Wang, S. X., Teske, J., Brahm, R., Hellier, C., et al. (2020). A hot terrestrial planet orbiting the bright M dwarf L 168-9 unveiled by TESS. Astron. Astrophys., 636, 13 pp.
Abstract: We report the detection of a transiting super-Earth-sized planet (R = 1.39 +/- 0.09 R-circle plus) in a 1.4-day orbit around L 168-9 (TOI-134), a bright M1V dwarf (V = 11, K = 7.1) located at 25.15 +/- 0.02 pc. The host star was observed in the first sector of the Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS) mission. For confirmation and planet mass measurement purposes, this was followed up with ground-based photometry, seeing-limited and high-resolution imaging, and precise radial velocity (PRV) observations using the HARPS and Magellan/PFS spectrographs. By combining the TESS data and PRV observations, we find the mass of L 168-9 b to be 4.60 +/- 0.56 M-circle plus and thus the bulk density to be 1.74(-0.33)(+0.44) times higher than that of the Earth. The orbital eccentricity is smaller than 0.21 (95% confidence). This planet is a level one candidate for the TESS mission's scientific objective of measuring the masses of 50 small planets, and it is one of the most observationally accessible terrestrial planets for future atmospheric characterization.
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Bouma, L. G., Hartman, J. D., Brahm, R., Evans, P., Collins, K. A., Zhou, G., et al. (2020). Cluster Difference Imaging Photometric Survey. II. TOI 837: A Young Validated Planet in IC 2602. Astron. J., 160(5), 20 pp.
Abstract: We report the discovery of TOI 837b and its validation as a transiting planet. We characterize the system using data from the NASA Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite mission, the ESA Gaia mission, ground-based photometry from El Sauce and ASTEP400, and spectroscopy from CHIRON, FEROS, and Veloce. We find that TOI 837 is a T = 9.9 mag G0/F9 dwarf in the southern open cluster IC 2602. The star and planet are therefore 35(-5)(+11) million years old. Combining the transit photometry with a prior on the stellar parameters derived from the cluster color-magnitude diagram, we find that the planet has an orbital period of 8.3 days and is slightly smaller than Jupiter (R-p = 0.77(0.07)(+0.09) R-Jup). From radial velocity monitoring, we limit M-p sin i to less than 1.20 M-Jup (3 sigma). The transits either graze or nearly graze the stellar limb. Grazing transits are a cause for concern, as they are often indicative of astrophysical false-positive scenarios. Our follow-up data show that such scenarios are unlikely. Our combined multicolor photometry, high-resolution imaging, and radial velocities rule out hierarchical eclipsing binary scenarios. Background eclipsing binary scenarios, though limited by speckle imaging, remain a 0.2% possibility. TOI 837b is therefore a validated adolescent exoplanet. The planetary nature of the system can be confirmed or refuted through observations of the stellar obliquity and the planetary mass. Such observations may also improve our understanding of how the physical and orbital properties of exoplanets change in time.
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Bozhilov, V., Antonova, D., Hobson, M. J., Brahm, R., Jordan, A., Henning, T., et al. (2023). A 2:1 Mean-motion Resonance Super-Jovian Pair Revealed by TESS, FEROS, and HARPS. Astrophys. J. Lett., 946(2), L36.
Abstract: We report the discovery of a super-Jovian 2:1 mean-motion resonance (MMR) pair around the G-type star TIC 279401253, whose dynamical architecture is a prospective benchmark for planet formation and orbital evolution analysis. The system was discovered thanks to a single-transit event recorded by the Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite mission, which pointed to a Jupiter-sized companion with poorly constrained orbital parameters. We began ground-based precise radial velocity (RV) monitoring with HARPS and FEROS within the Warm gIaNts with tEss survey to constrain the transiting body's period, mass, and eccentricity. The RV measurements revealed not one but two massive planets with periods of 76.80(-0.06)(+0.06) and 155.3(-0.7)(+0.7) days, respectively. A combined analysis of transit and RV data yields an inner transiting planet with a mass of 6.14(-0.42)(+0.39) M-Jup and a radius of 1.00(-0.04)(+0.04) R-Jup, and an outer planet with a minimum mass of 8.02(-0.18)(+0.18) M-Jup, indicating a massive giant pair. A detailed dynamical analysis of the system reveals that the planets are locked in a strong firstorder, eccentricity-type 2:1 MMR, which makes TIC 279401253 one of the rare examples of truly resonant architectures supporting disk-induced planet migration. The bright host star, V approximate to 11.9 mag, the relatively short orbital period (P-b = 76.80(-0.06)(+0.06) days), and pronounced eccentricity (e = 0.448(-0.029)(+0.029)) make the transiting planet a valuable target for atmospheric investigation with the James Webb Space Telescope and ground-based extremely large telescopes.
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Brahm, R., Ulmer-Moll, S., Hobson, M. J., Jordan, A., Henning, T., Trifonov, T., et al. (2023). Three Long-period Transiting Giant Planets from TESS. Astron. J., 165(6), 227.
Abstract: We report the discovery and orbital characterization of three new transiting warm giant planets. These systems were initially identified as presenting single-transit events in the light curves generated from the full-frame images of the Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite. Follow-up radial velocity measurements and additional light curves were used to determine the orbital periods and confirm the planetary nature of the candidates. The planets orbit slightly metal-rich late F- and early G-type stars. We find that TOI 4406b has a mass of M ( P ) = 0.30 +/- 0.04 M (J), a radius of R ( P ) = 1.00 +/- 0.02 R (J), and a low-eccentricity orbit (e = 0.15 +/- 0.05) with a period of P = 30.08364 +/- 0.00005 days. TOI 2338b has a mass of M ( P ) = 5.98 +/- 0.20 M (J), a radius of R ( P ) = 1.00 +/- 0.01 R (J), and a highly eccentric orbit (e = 0.676 +/- 0.002) with a period of P = 22.65398 +/- 0.00002 days. Finally, TOI 2589b has a mass of M ( P ) = 3.50 +/- 0.10 M (J), a radius of R ( P ) = 1.08 +/- 0.03 R (J), and an eccentric orbit (e = 0.522 +/- 0.006) with a period of P = 61.6277 +/- 0.0002 days. TOI 4406b and TOI 2338b are enriched in metals compared to their host stars, while the structure of TOI 2589b is consistent with having similar metal enrichment to its host star.
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Carleo, I., Gandolfi, D., Barragan, O., Livingston, J. H., Persson, C. M., Lam, K. W. F., et al. (2020). The Multiplanet System TOI-421*. Astron. J., 160(3), 23 pp.
Abstract: We report the discovery of a warm Neptune and a hot sub-Neptune transiting TOI-421 (BD-14 1137, TIC 94986319), a bright (V = 9.9) G9 dwarf star in a visual binary system observed by the Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS) space mission in Sectors 5 and 6. We performed ground-based follow-up observations-comprised of Las Cumbres Observatory Global Telescope transit photometry, NIRC2 adaptive optics imaging, and FIbre-fed Echelle Spectrograph, CORALIE, High Accuracy Radial velocity Planet Searcher, High Resolution echelle Spectrometer, and Planet Finder Spectrograph high-precision Doppler measurements-and confirmed the planetary nature of the 16 day transiting candidate announced by the TESS team. We discovered an additional radial velocity signal with a period of five days induced by the presence of a second planet in the system, which we also found to transit its host star. We found that the inner mini-Neptune, TOI-421 b, has an orbital period of P-b = 5.19672 +/- 0.00049 days, a mass of M-b = 7.17 +/- 0.66 M-circle plus, and a radius of R-b = R-circle plus, whereas the outer warm Neptune, TOI-421 c, has a period of P-c = 16.06819 +/- 0.00035 days, a mass of M-c = 16.42(-1.04)(+1.06)M(circle plus), a radius of R-c = 5.09(-0.15)(+0.16)R(circle plus), and a density of rho(c) = 0.685(-0.072)(+0.080) cm(-3). With its characteristics, the outer planet (rho(c) = 0.685(-0.0072)(+0.080) cm(-3)) is placed in the intriguing class of the super-puffy mini-Neptunes. TOI-421 b and TOI-421 c are found to be well-suited for atmospheric characterization. Our atmospheric simulations predict significant Ly alpha transit absorption, due to strong hydrogen escape in both planets, as well as the presence of detectable CH4 in the atmosphere of TOI-421 c if equilibrium chemistry is assumed.
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Carleo, I., Malavolta, L., Desidera, S., Nardiello, D., Wang, S., Turrini, D., et al. (2024). The GAPS programme at TNG. Astron. Astrophys., 682, A135.
Abstract: Context. Different theories have been developed to explain the origins and properties of close-in giant planets, but none of them alone can explain all of the properties of the warm Jupiters (WJs, Porb = 10-200 days). One of the most intriguing characteristics of WJs is that they have a wide range of orbital eccentricities, challenging our understanding of their formation and evolution. Aims. The investigation of these systems is crucial in order to put constraints on formation and evolution theories. TESS is providing a significant sample of transiting WJs around stars bright enough to allow spectroscopic follow-up studies. Methods. We carried out a radial velocity (RV) follow-up study of the TESS candidate TOI-4515 b with the high-resolution spectrograph HARPS-N in the context of the GAPS project, the aim of which is to characterize young giant planets, and the TRES and FEROS spectrographs. We then performed a joint analysis of the HARPS-N, TRES, FEROS, and TESS data in order to fully characterize this planetary system. Results. We find that TOI-4515 b orbits a 1.2 Gyr-old G-star, has an orbital period of Pb = 15.266446 +/- 0.000013 days, a mass of Mb = 2.01 +/- 0.05 MJ, and a radius of Rb = 1.09 +/- 0.04 RJ. We also find an eccentricity of e = 0.46 +/- 0.01, placing this planet among the WJs with highly eccentric orbits. As no additional companion has been detected, this high eccentricity might be the consequence of past violent scattering events.
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Hobson, M. J., Trifonov, T., Henning, T., Jordan, A., Rojas, F., Espinoza, N., et al. (2023). Alert Results TOI-199 b: A Well-characterized 100 day Transiting Warm Giant Planet with TTVs Seen from Antarctica 41 of 41 TOI-199 b: A Well-characterized 100 day Transiting Warm Giant Planet with TTVs Seen from Antarctica. Astron. J., 166(5), 201.
Abstract: We present the spectroscopic confirmation and precise mass measurement of the warm giant planet TOI-199 b. This planet was first identified in TESS photometry and confirmed using ground-based photometry from ASTEP in Antarctica including a full 6.5 hr long transit, PEST, Hazelwood, and LCO; space photometry from NEOSSat; and radial velocities (RVs) from FEROS, HARPS, CORALIE, and CHIRON. Orbiting a late G-type star, TOI-199 b has a 104.854-0.002+0.001day period, a mass of 0.17 +/- 0.02 M J, and a radius of 0.810 +/- 0.005 R J. It is the first warm exo-Saturn with a precisely determined mass and radius. The TESS and ASTEP transits show strong transit timing variations (TTVs), pointing to the existence of a second planet in the system. The joint analysis of the RVs and TTVs provides a unique solution for the nontransiting companion TOI-199 c, which has a period of 273.69-0.22+0.26days and an estimated mass of 0.28-0.01+0.02MJ . This period places it within the conservative habitable zone.
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Jones, M. I., Reinarz, Y., Brahm, R.., Tala Pinto, M., Eberhardt, J., Rojas, F., et al. (2024). A long-period transiting substellar companion in the super-Jupiters to brown dwarfs mass regime and a prototypical warm-Jupiter detected by TESS. Astron. Astrophys., 683, A192.
Abstract: We report on the confirmation and follow-up characterization of two long-period transiting substellar companions on low-eccentricity orbits around TIC 4672985 and TOI-2529, whose transit events were detected by the TESS space mission. Ground-based photometric and spectroscopic follow-up from different facilities, confirmed the substellar nature of TIC 4672985 b, a massive gas giant in the transition between the super-Jupiters and brown dwarfs mass regime. From the joint analysis we derived the following orbital parameters: P = 69.0480(-0.0005)(+0.0004) d, M-p = 12.74(-1.01)(+1.01) M-J, R-p = 1.026(-0.067)(+0.065) R-J and e = 0.018(-0.004)(+0.004). In addition, the RV time series revealed a significant trend at the similar to 350 m s(-1) yr(-1) level, which is indicative of the presence of a massive outer companion in the system. TIC 4672985 b is a unique example of a transiting substellar companion with a mass above the deuterium-burning limit, located beyond 0.1 AU and in a nearly circular orbit. These planetary properties are difficult to reproduce from canonical planet formation and evolution models. For TOI-2529 b, we obtained the following orbital parameters: P = 64.5949(-0.0003)(+0.0003) d, M-p = 2.340(-0.195)(+0.197) M-J, R-p = 1.030(-0.050)(+0.050) R-J and e = 0.021(-0.015)(+0.024), making this object a new example of a growing population of transiting warm giant planets.
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Jordan, A., Brahm, R., Espinoza, N., Henning, T., Jones, M. I., Kossakowski, D., et al. (2020). TOI-677b: A Warm Jupiter (P=11.2 days) on an Eccentric Orbit Transiting a Late F-type Star. Astron. J., 159(4), 10 pp.
Abstract: We report the discovery of TOI-677.b, first identified as a candidate in light curves obtained within Sectors 9 and 10 of the Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS) mission and confirmed with radial velocities. TOI-677.b has a mass of M-p = 1.236(-0.067)(+0.069) M-J, a radius of R-P = 1.170 +/- 0.03 R-J, and orbits its bright host star (V=.9.8 mag) with an orbital period of 11.23660 +/- 0.00011 d, on an eccentric orbit with e = 0.435 +/- 0.024. The host star has a mass of M-star = 1.181 +/- 0.058 M-circle dot, a radius of R. = 1.28(-0.03)(+0.03) R-circle dot, an age of 2.92(-0.73)(+0.80) Gyr and solar metallicity, properties consistent with a main-sequence late-F star with T-eff = 6295 +/- 77 K. We find evidence in the radial velocity measurements of a secondary long-term signal, which could be due to an outer companion. The TOI-677.b system is a well-suited target for Rossiter-Mclaughlin observations that can constrain migration mechanisms of close-in giant planets.
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Kaye, L., Vissapragada, S., Gunther, M. N., Aigrain, S., Mikal-Evans, T., Jensen, E. L. N., et al. (2022). Transit timings variations in the three-planet system: TOI-270. Mon. Not. Roy. Astron. Soc., 510(4), 5464–5485.
Abstract: We present ground- and space-based photometric observations of TOI-270 (L231-32), a system of three transiting planets consisting of one super-Earth and two sub-Neptunes discovered by TESS around a bright (K-mag = 8.25) M3V dwarf. The planets orbit near low-order mean-motion resonances (5:3 and 2:1) and are thus expected to exhibit large transit timing variations (TTVs). Following an extensive observing campaign using eight different observatories between 2018 and 2020, we now report a clear detection of TTVs for planets c and d, with amplitudes of similar to 10 min and a super-period of similar to 3 yr, as well as significantly refined estimates of the radii and mean orbital periods of all three planets. Dynamical modelling of the TTVs alone puts strong constraints on the mass ratio of planets c and d and on their eccentricities. When incorporating recently published constraints from radial velocity observations, we obtain masses of M-b = 1.48 +/- 0.18 M-circle plus, M-c = 6.20 +/- 0.31 M-circle plus, and M-d = 4.20 +/- 0.16 M-circle plus for planets b, c, and d, respectively. We also detect small but significant eccentricities for all three planets : e(b) = 0.0167 +/- 0.0084, e(c) = 0.0044 +/- 0.0006, and e(d) = 0.0066 +/- 0.0020. Our findings imply an Earth-like rocky composition for the inner planet, and Earth-like cores with an additional He/H2O atmosphere for the outer two. TOI-270 is now one of the best constrained systems of small transiting planets, and it remains an excellent target for atmospheric characterization.
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Osborn, A., Armstrong, D. J., Cale, B., Brahm, R., Wittenmyer, R. A., Dai, F., et al. (2021). TOI-431/HIP 26013: a super-Earth and a sub-Neptune transiting a bright, early K dwarf, with a third RV planet. Mon. Not. Roy. Astron. Soc., 507(2), 2782–2803.
Abstract: We present the bright (V-mag = 9.12), multiplanet system TOI-431, characterized with photometry and radial velocities (RVs). We estimate the stellar rotation period to be 30.5 +/- 0.7 d using archival photometry and RVs. Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS) objects of Interest (TOI)-431b is a super-Earth with a period of 0.49 d, a radius of 1.28 +/- 0.04 R-circle plus, a mass of 3.07 +/- 0.35 M-circle plus, and a density of 8.0 +/- 1.0 g cm(-3); TOI-431 d is a sub-Neptune with a period of 12.46 d, a radius of 3.29 +/- 0.09 R-circle plus, a mass of M-circle plus, and a density of 1.36 +/- 0.25 g cm(-3). We find a third planet, TOI-431c, in the High Accuracy Radial velocity Planet Searcher RV data, but it is not seen to transit in the TESS light curves. It has an Msin i of M-circle plus, and a period of 4.85 d. TOI-431d likely has an extended atmosphere and is one of the most well-suited TESS discoveries for atmospheric characterization, while the super-Earth TOI-431b may be a stripped core. These planets straddle the radius gap, presenting an interesting case-study for atmospheric evolution, and TOI-431b is a prime TESS discovery for the study of rocky planet phase curves.
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Sha, L. Z., Huang, C. L. X., Shporer, A., Rodriguez, J. E., Vanderburg, A., Brahm, R., et al. (2021). TOI-954 b and K2-329 b: Short-period Saturn-mass Planets that Test whether Irradiation Leads to Inflation. Astron. J., 161(2), 82.
Abstract: We report the discovery of two short-period Saturn-mass planets, one transiting the G subgiant TOI-954 (TIC 44792534, V = 10.343, T = 9.78) observed in TESS sectors 4 and 5 and one transiting the G dwarf K2-329 (EPIC 246193072, V = 12.70, K = 10.67) observed in K2 campaigns 12 and 19. We confirm and characterize these two planets with a variety of ground-based archival and follow-up observations, including photometry, reconnaissance spectroscopy, precise radial velocity, and high-resolution imaging. Combining all available data, we find that TOI-954 b has a radius of 0.852(-0.062)(+0.053) R-J and a mass of 0.174(-0.017)(+0.018) M-J and is in a 3.68 day orbit, while K2-329 b has a radius of 0.774(-0.024)(+0.026) R-J and a mass if 0.260(-0.022)(+0.020) M-J and is in a 12.46 day orbit. As TOI-954 b is 30 times more irradiated than K2-329 b but more or less the same size, these two planets provide an opportunity to test whether irradiation leads to inflation of Saturn-mass planets and contribute to future comparative studies that explore Saturn-mass planets at contrasting points in their lifetimes.
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Trifonov, T., Brahm, R., Espinoza, N., Henning, T., Jordan, A., Nesvorny, D., et al. (2021). A Pair of Warm Giant Planets near the 2:1 Mean Motion Resonance around the K-dwarf Star TOI-2202*. Astron. J., 162(6), 283.
Abstract: TOI-2202 b is a transiting warm Jovian-mass planet with an orbital period of P = 11.91 days identified from the Full Frame Images data of five different sectors of the TESS mission. Ten TESS transits of TOI-2202 b combined with three follow-up light curves obtained with the CHAT robotic telescope show strong transit timing variations (TTVs) with an amplitude of about 1.2 hr. Radial velocity follow-up with FEROS, HARPS, and PFS confirms the planetary nature of the transiting candidate (a (b) = 0.096 +/- 0.001 au, m (b) = 0.98 +/- 0.06 M (Jup)), and a dynamical analysis of RVs, transit data, and TTVs points to an outer Saturn-mass companion (a (c) = 0.155 +/- 0.002 au, m (c) = 0.37 +/- 0.10 M (Jup)) near the 2:1 mean motion resonance. Our stellar modeling indicates that TOI-2202 is an early K-type star with a mass of 0.82 M (circle dot), a radius of 0.79 R (circle dot), and solar-like metallicity. The TOI-2202 system is very interesting because of the two warm Jovian-mass planets near the 2:1 mean motion resonance, which is a rare configuration, and their formation and dynamical evolution are still not well understood.
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Ulmer-Moll, S., Lendl, M., Gill, S., Villanueva, S., Hobson, M. J., Bouchy, F., et al. (2022). Two long-period transiting exoplanets on eccentric orbits: NGTS-20 b (TOI-5152 b) and TOI-5153 b. Astron. Astrophys., 666, A46.
Abstract: Context. Long-period transiting planets provide the opportunity to better understand the formation and evolution of planetary systems. Their atmospheric properties remain largely unaltered by tidal or radiative effects of the host star, and their orbital arrangement reflects a different and less extreme migrational history compared to close-in objects. The sample of long-period exoplanets with well-determined masses and radii is still limited, but a growing number of long-period objects reveal themselves in the Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS) data.
Aims. Our goal is to vet and confirm single-transit planet candidates detected in the TESS space-based photometric data through spectroscopic and photometric follow-up observations with ground-based instruments.
Methods. We used high-resolution spectrographs to confirm the planetary nature of the transiting candidates and measure their masses. We also used the Next Generation Transit Survey (NGTS) to photometrically monitor the candidates in order to observe additional transits. Using a joint modeling of the light curves and radial velocities, we computed the orbital parameters of the system and were able to precisely measure the mass and radius of the transiting planets.
Results. We report the discovery of two massive, warm Jupiter-size planets, one orbiting the F8-type star TOI-5153 and the other orbiting the G1-type star NGTS-20 (=TOI-5152). From our spectroscopic analysis, both stars are metal rich with a metallicity of 0.12 and 0.15, respectively. Only TOI-5153 presents a second transit in the TESS extended mission data, but NGTS observed NGTS-20 as part of its mono-transit follow-up program and detected two additional transits. Follow-up high-resolution spectroscopic observations were carried out with CORALIE, CHIRON, FEROS, and HARPS. TOI-5153 hosts a planet with a period of 20.33 days, a planetary mass of 3.26(-0.17)(+0.18) Jupiter masses (M-j), a radius of 1.06(-0.04)(+0.04)R(J), and an orbital eccentricity of 0.091(-0.02)(6)(+0.024). NGTS-20 b is a 2.98(-)(0.)(15)(+0.16) M-J planet with a radius of 1.07(-0.0)(4)(+0.04) R-J on an eccentric (0.432(-0.023)(+0.023)) orbit with an orbital period of 54.19 days. Both planets are metal enriched and their heavy element content is in line with the previously reported mass-metallicity relation for gas giants.
Conclusions. Both warm Jupiters orbit moderately bright host stars, making these objects valuable targets for follow-up studies of the planetary atmosphere and measurement of the spin-orbit angle of the system.
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