Context. The Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS) is observing bright known planet-host stars across almost the entire sky. These stars have been subject to extensive ground-based ...observations, providing a large number of radial velocity measurements. Aims. The objective of this work is to use the new TESS photometric observations to characterize the star λ2 Fornacis, and following this to update the parameters of the orbiting planet λ2 For b. Methods. We measured the frequencies of the p-mode oscillations in λ2 For, and in combination with non-seismic parameters estimated the stellar fundamental properties using stellar models. Using the revised stellar properties and a time series of archival radial velocities from the UCLES, HIRES and HARPS instruments spanning almost 20 years, we refit the orbit of λ2 For b and searched the residual radial velocities for remaining variability. Results. We find that λ2 For has a mass of 1.16 ± 0.03 M⊙ and a radius of 1.63 ± 0.04 R⊙, with an age of 6.3 ± 0.9 Gyr. This and the updated radial velocity measurements suggest a mass of λ2 For b of 16.8−1.3+1.2 M⊕, which is ∼5M⊕ less than literature estimates. We also detect an additional periodicity at 33 days in the radial velocity measurements, which is likely due to the rotation of the host star. Conclusions. While previous literature estimates of the properties of λ2 For are ambiguous, the asteroseismic measurements place the star firmly at the early stage of its subgiant evolutionary phase. Typically only short time series of photometric data are available from TESS, but by using asteroseismology it is still possible to provide tight constraints on the properties of bright stars that until now have only been observed from the ground. This prompts a reexamination of archival radial velocity data that have been accumulated in the past few decades in order to update the characteristics of the planet hosting systems observed by TESS for which asteroseismology is possible.
ABSTRACT
We present radial velocity measurements of the very bright (V ∼ 5.7) nearby F star, DMPP-4 (HD 184960). The anomalously low Ca ii H&K emission suggests mass-loss from planets orbiting a low ...activity host star. Periodic radial velocity variability with ∼10 m s−1 amplitude is found to persist over a >4 yr time-scale. Although the non-simultaneous photometric variability in four TESS sectors supports the view of an inactive star, we identify periodic photometric signals and also find spectroscopic evidence for stellar activity. We used a posterior sampling algorithm that includes the number of Keplerian signals, Np, as a free parameter to test and compare (1) purely Keplerian models (2) a Keplerian model with linear activity correlation and (3) Keplerian models with Gaussian processes. A preferred model, with one Keplerian and quasi-periodic Gaussian process indicates a planet with a period of $P_\textrm {b} = 3.4982^{+0.0015}_{-0.0027}$ d and corresponding minimum mass of $m_\textrm {b}\, \textrm {sin}\, i = 12.2^{+1.8}_{-1.9}$ M⊕. Without further high-time resolution observations over a longer time-scale, we cannot definitively rule out the purely Keplerian model with two candidates planets with $P_\textrm {b} = 2.4570^{+0.0026}_{-0.0462}$ d, minimum mass $m_\textrm {b}\, \textrm {sin}\, i = 8.0^{+1.1}_{-1.5}$ M⊕ and $P_\textrm {c} = 5.4196^{+0.6766}_{-0.0030}$ d and corresponding minimum mass of $m_\textrm {b}\, \textrm {sin}\, i = 12.2^{+1.4}_{-1.6}$ M⊕. The candidate planets lie in the region below the lower-envelope of the Neptune Desert. Continued mass-loss may originate from the highly irradiated planets or from an as yet undetected body in the system.
ABSTRACT
The accuracy of theoretical mass, radius, and effective temperature values for M-dwarf stars is an active topic of debate. Differences between observed and theoretical values have raised the ...possibility that current theoretical stellar structure and evolution models are inaccurate towards the low-mass end of the main sequence. To explore this issue, we use the CHEOPS satellite to obtain high-precision light curves of eclipsing binaries with low-mass stellar companions. We use these light curves combined with the spectroscopic orbit for the solar-type companion to measure the mass, radius, and effective temperature of the M-dwarf star. Here, we present the analysis of three eclipsing binaries. We use the pycheops data analysis software to fit the observed transit and eclipse events of each system. Two of our systems were also observed by the TESS satellite – we similarly analyse these light curves for comparison. We find consistent results between CHEOPS and TESS, presenting three stellar radii and two stellar effective temperature values of low-mass stellar objects. These initial results from our on-going observing programme with CHEOPS show that we can expect to have ∼24 new mass, radius, and effective temperature measurements for very low-mass stars within the next few years.
Context.
In the age of JWST, temperate terrestrial exoplanets transiting nearby late-type M dwarfs provide unique opportunities for characterising their atmospheres, as well as searching for ...biosignature gases. In this context, the benchmark TRAPPIST-1 planetary system has garnered the interest of a broad scientific community.
Aims.
We report here the discovery and validation of two temperate super-Earths transiting LP 890-9 (TOI-4306, SPECULOOS-2), a relatively low-activity nearby (32 pc) M6V star. The inner planet, LP 890-9 b, was first detected by TESS (and identified as TOI-4306.01) based on four sectors of data. Intensive photometric monitoring of the system with the SPECULOOS Southern Observatory then led to the discovery of a second outer transiting planet, LP 890-9 c (also identified as SPECULOOS-2 c), previously undetected by TESS. The orbital period of this second planet was later confirmed by MuSCAT3 follow-up observations.
Methods.
We first inferred the properties of the host star by analyzing its Lick/Kast optical and IRTF/SpeX near-infrared spectra, as well as its broadband spectral energy distribution, and
Gaia
parallax. We then derived the properties of the two planets by modelling multi-colour transit photometry from TESS, SPECULOOS-South, MuSCAT3, ExTrA, TRAPPIST-South, and SAINT-EX. Archival imaging, Gemini-South/Zorro high-resolution imaging, and Subaru/IRD radial velocities also support our planetary interpretation.
Results.
With a mass of 0.118 ± 0.002
M
⊙
, a radius of 0.1556 ± 0.0086
R
⊙
, and an effective temperature of 2850 ± 75 K, LP 890-9 is the second-coolest star found to host planets, after TRAPPIST-1. The inner planet has an orbital period of 2.73 d, a radius of 1.320
−0.027
+0.053
R
⊕
, and receives an incident stellar flux of 4.09 ± 0.12
S
⊕
. The outer planet has a similar size of 1.367
−0.039
+0.055
R
⊕
and an orbital period of 8.46 d. With an incident stellar flux of 0.906 ± 0.026
S
⊕
, it is located within the conservative habitable zone, very close to its inner limit (runaway greenhouse). Although the masses of the two planets remain to be measured, we estimated their potential for atmospheric characterisation via transmission spectroscopy using a mass-radius relationship and found that, after the TRAPPIST-1 planets, LP 890-9 c is the second-most favourable habitable-zone terrestrial planet known so far (assuming for this comparison a similar atmosphere for all planets).
Conclusions.
The discovery of this remarkable system offers another rare opportunity to study temperate terrestrial planets around our smallest and coolest neighbours.
ABSTRACT
Eclipsing binaries are important benchmark objects to test and calibrate stellar structure and evolution models. This is especially true for binaries with a fully convective M-dwarf ...component for which direct measurements of these stars’ masses and radii are difficult using other techniques. Within the potential of M-dwarfs to be exoplanet host stars, the accuracy of theoretical predictions of their radius and effective temperature as a function of their mass is an active topic of discussion. Not only the parameters of transiting exoplanets but also the success of future atmospheric characterization relies on accurate theoretical predictions. We present the analysis of five eclipsing binaries with low-mass stellar companions out of a subsample of 23, for which we obtained ultra-high-precision light curves using the CHEOPS satellite. The observation of their primary and secondary eclipses are combined with spectroscopic measurements to precisely model the primary parameters and derive the M-dwarfs mass, radius, surface gravity, and effective temperature estimates using the PYCHEOPS data analysis software. Combining these results to the same set of parameters derived from TESS light curves, we find very good agreement (better than 1 per cent for radius and better than 0.2 per cent for surface gravity). We also analyse the importance of precise orbits from radial velocity measurements and find them to be crucial to derive M-dwarf radii in a regime below 5 per cent accuracy. These results add five valuable data points to the mass–radius diagram of fully convective M-dwarfs.
ABSTRACT
Observations of low-mass stars have frequently shown a disagreement between observed stellar radii and radii predicted by theoretical stellar structure models. This ‘radius inflation’ ...problem could have an impact on both stellar and exoplanetary science. We present the final results of our observation programme with the CHaracterising ExOPlanet Satellite (CHEOPS) to obtain high-precision light curves of eclipsing binaries with low-mass stellar companions (EBLMs). Combined with the spectroscopic orbits of the solar-type companions, we can derive the masses, radii, and effective temperatures of 23 M-dwarf stars. We use the pycheops data analysis software to analyse their primary and secondary occultations. For all but one target, we also perform analyses with Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS) light curves for comparison. We have assessed the impact of starspot-induced variation on our derived parameters and account for this in our radius and effective temperature uncertainties using simulated light curves. We observe trends in inflation with both metallicity and orbital separation. We also observe a strong trend in the difference between theoretical and observational effective temperatures with metallicity. There is no such trend with orbital separation. These results are not consistent with the idea that the observed inflation in stellar radius combines with lower effective temperature to preserve the luminosity predicted by low-mass stellar models. Our EBLM systems provide high-quality and homogeneous measurements that can be used in further studies of radius inflation.
Context.
The Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS) is observing bright known planet-host stars across almost the entire sky. These stars have been subject to extensive ground-based ...observations, providing a large number of radial velocity measurements.
Aims.
The objective of this work is to use the new TESS photometric observations to characterize the star
λ
2
Fornacis
, and following this to update the parameters of the orbiting planet
λ
2
For b
.
Methods.
We measured the frequencies of the
p
-mode oscillations in
λ
2
For
, and in combination with non-seismic parameters estimated the stellar fundamental properties using stellar models. Using the revised stellar properties and a time series of archival radial velocities from the UCLES, HIRES and HARPS instruments spanning almost 20 years, we refit the orbit of
λ
2
For b and searched the residual radial velocities for remaining variability.
Results.
We find that
λ
2
For has a mass of 1.16 ± 0.03
M
⊙
and a radius of 1.63 ± 0.04
R
⊙
, with an age of 6.3 ± 0.9 Gyr. This and the updated radial velocity measurements suggest a mass of
λ
2
For b of 16.8
−1.3
+1.2
M
⊕
, which is ∼5
M
⊕
less than literature estimates. We also detect an additional periodicity at 33 days in the radial velocity measurements, which is likely due to the rotation of the host star.
Conclusions.
While previous literature estimates of the properties of
λ
2
For are ambiguous, the asteroseismic measurements place the star firmly at the early stage of its subgiant evolutionary phase. Typically only short time series of photometric data are available from TESS, but by using asteroseismology it is still possible to provide tight constraints on the properties of bright stars that until now have only been observed from the ground. This prompts a reexamination of archival radial velocity data that have been accumulated in the past few decades in order to update the characteristics of the planet hosting systems observed by TESS for which asteroseismology is possible.
High-contrast eclipsing binaries with low mass M-dwarf secondaries are precise benchmark stars to build empirical mass-radius relationships for fully convective low-mass (\(\rm M_{*} < 0.35\,M_{\rm ...sun}\)) dwarf stars. The contributed light of the M-dwarf in such binaries is usually much less than one~per~cent at optical wavelengths. This enables the detection of circumbinary planets from precise radial velocity measurements. High-resolution cross-correlation techniques are typically used to detect exoplanet atmospheres. One key aspect of these techniques is the post-processing, which includes the removal of telluric and spectral lines of the host star. We introduce the application of such techniques to optical high-resolution spectra of the circumbinary planet-host TOI-1338/BEBOP-1, turning it effectively into a double-lined eclipsing binary. By using simulations, we further explore the impact of post-processing techniques for high-contrast systems. We detect the M-dwarf secondary with a significance of 11-\(\sigma\) and measure absolute dynamical masses for both components. Compared to previous model-dependent mass measurements, we obtain a four times better precision. We further find that the post-processing results in negligible systematic impact on the radial velocity precision for TOI-1338/BEBOP-1 with more than \(96.6\,\)per~cent (1-\(\sigma\)) of the M-dwarf's signal being conserved. We show that these methods can be used to robustly measure dynamical masses of high-contrast single-lined binaries providing important benchmark stars for stellar evolution particularly near the bottom of the main sequence. We also demonstrate how to retrieve the phase curve of an exoplanet with high-resolution spectroscopy using our data.
We present radial velocity measurements of the very bright (\(V\sim5.7\)) nearby F star, DMPP-4 (HD 184960). The anomalously low Ca II H&K emission suggests mass loss from planets orbiting a low ...activity host star. Periodic radial velocity variability with \(\sim 10\) ms\(^{-1}\) amplitude is found to persist over a \(>4\) year timescale. Although the non-simultaneous photometric variability in four TESS sectors supports the view of an inactive star, we identify periodic photometric signals and also find spectroscopic evidence for stellar activity. We used a posterior sampling algorithm that includes the number of Keplerian signals, \(N_\textrm{p}\), as a free parameter to test and compare (1) purely Keplerian models (2) a Keplerian model with linear activity correlation and (3) Keplerian models with Gaussian processes. A preferred model, with one Keplerian and quasi-periodic Gaussian process indicates a planet with a period of \(P_\textrm{b} = 3.4982^{+0.0015}_{-0.0027}\) d and corresponding minimum mass of \(m_\textrm{b}\,\textrm{sin}\,i = 12.2^{+1.8}_{-1.9}\) M\(_\oplus\). Without further high time resolution observations over a longer timescale, we cannot definitively rule out the purely Keplerian model with 2 candidates planets with \(P_\textrm{b} = 2.4570^{+0.0026}_{-0.0462}\) d, minimum mass \(m_\textrm{b}\,\textrm{sin}\,i = 8.0^{+1.1}_{-1.5}\) M\(_\oplus\) and \(P_\textrm{c} = 5.4196^{+0.6766}_{-0.0030}\) d and corresponding minimum mass of \(m_\textrm{b}\,\textrm{sin}\,i = 12.2^{+1.4}_{-1.6}\) M\(_\oplus\). The candidate planets lie in the region below the lower-envelope of the Neptune Desert. Continued mass loss may originate from the highly irradiated planets or from an as yet undetected body in the system.
In the age of JWST, temperate terrestrial exoplanets transiting nearby late-type M dwarfs provide unique opportunities for characterising their atmospheres, as well as searching for biosignature ...gases. We report here the discovery and validation of two temperate super-Earths transiting LP 890-9 (TOI-4306, SPECULOOS-2), a relatively low-activity nearby (32 pc) M6V star. The inner planet, LP 890-9b, was first detected by TESS (and identified as TOI-4306.01) based on four sectors of data. Intensive photometric monitoring of the system with the SPECULOOS Southern Observatory then led to the discovery of a second outer transiting planet, LP 890-9c (also identified as SPECULOOS-2c), previously undetected by TESS. The orbital period of this second planet was later confirmed by MuSCAT3 follow-up observations. With a mass of 0.118\(\pm\)0.002 \(M_\odot\), a radius of 0.1556\(\pm\)0.0086 \(R_\odot\), and an effective temperature of 2850\(\pm\)75 K, LP 890-9 is the second-coolest star found to host planets, after TRAPPIST-1. The inner planet has an orbital period of 2.73 d, a radius of \(1.320_{-0.027}^{+0.053}\) \(R_\oplus\), and receives an incident stellar flux of 4.09\(\pm\)0.12 \(S_\oplus\). The outer planet has a similar size of \(1.367_{-0.039}^{+0.055}\) \(R_\oplus\) and an orbital period of 8.46 d. With an incident stellar flux of 0.906 \(\pm\) 0.026 \(S_\oplus\), it is located within the conservative habitable zone, very close to its inner limit. Although the masses of the two planets remain to be measured, we estimated their potential for atmospheric characterisation via transmission spectroscopy using a mass-radius relationship and found that, after the TRAPPIST-1 planets, LP 890-9c is the second-most favourable habitable-zone terrestrial planet known so far. The discovery of this remarkable system offers another rare opportunity to study temperate terrestrial planets around our smallest and coolest neighbours.
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