More Like this

1. Neptune Odyssey: A Flagship Concept for the Exploration of the Neptune–Triton System

   https://doi.org/10.3847/PSJ/abf654  

   Rymer, Abigail M.; Runyon, Kirby D.; Clyde, Brenda; Núñez, Jorge I.; Nikoukar, Romina; Soderlund, Krista M.; Sayanagi, Kunio; Hofstadter, Mark; Quick, Lynnae C.; Stern, S. Alan; et al (September 2021, The Planetary Science Journal)

   Abstract The Neptune Odyssey mission concept is a Flagship-class orbiter and atmospheric probe to the Neptune–Triton system. This bold mission of exploration would orbit an ice-giant planet to study the planet, its rings, small satellites, space environment, and the planet-sized moon Triton. Triton is a captured dwarf planet from the Kuiper Belt, twin of Pluto, and likely ocean world. Odyssey addresses Neptune system-level science, with equal priorities placed on Neptune, its rings, moons, space environment, and Triton. Between Uranus and Neptune, the latter is unique in providing simultaneous access to both an ice giant and a Kuiper Belt dwarf planet. The spacecraft—in a class equivalent to the NASA/ESA/ASI Cassini spacecraft—would launch by 2031 on a Space Launch System or equivalent launch vehicle and utilize a Jupiter gravity assist for a 12 yr cruise to Neptune and a 4 yr prime orbital mission; alternatively a launch after 2031 would have a 16 yr direct-to-Neptune cruise phase. Our solution provides annual launch opportunities and allows for an easy upgrade to the shorter (12 yr) cruise. Odyssey would orbit Neptune retrograde (prograde with respect to Triton), using the moon's gravity to shape the orbital tour and allow coverage of Triton, Neptune, and the space environment. The atmospheric entry probe would descend in ∼37 minutes to the 10 bar pressure level in Neptune's atmosphere just before Odyssey's orbit-insertion engine burn. Odyssey's mission would end by conducting a Cassini-like “Grand Finale,” passing inside the rings and ultimately taking a final great plunge into Neptune's atmosphere. 

   more » « less
2. The Warm Neptune GJ 3470b Has a Polar Orbit

   https://doi.org/10.3847/2041-8213/ac6e3c  

   Stefànsson, Guđmundur; Mahadevan, Suvrath; Petrovich, Cristobal; Winn, Joshua N.; Kanodia, Shubham; Millholland, Sarah C.; Maney, Marissa; Cañas, Caleb I.; Wisniewski, John; Robertson, Paul; et al (May 2022, The Astrophysical Journal Letters)

   Abstract The warm Neptune GJ 3470b transits a nearby ( d = 29 pc) bright slowly rotating M1.5-dwarf star. Using spectroscopic observations during two transits with the newly commissioned NEID spectrometer on the WIYN 3.5 m Telescope at Kitt Peak Observatory, we model the classical Rossiter–McLaughlin effect, yielding a sky-projected obliquity of λ = 98 − 12 + 15 ◦ and a v sin i = 0.85 − 0.33 + 0.27 km s − 1 . Leveraging information about the rotation period and size of the host star, our analysis yields a true obliquity of ψ = 95 − 8 + 9 ◦ , revealing that GJ 3470b is on a polar orbit. Using radial velocities from HIRES, HARPS, and the Habitable-zone Planet Finder, we show that the data are compatible with a long-term radial velocity (RV) slope of γ ̇ = − 0.0022 ± 0.0011 m s − 1 day − 1 over a baseline of 12.9 yr. If the RV slope is due to acceleration from another companion in the system, we show that such a companion is capable of explaining the polar and mildly eccentric orbit of GJ 3470b using two different secular excitation models. The existence of an outer companion can be further constrained with additional RV observations, Gaia astrometry, and future high-contrast imaging observations. Lastly, we show that tidal heating from GJ 3470b’s mild eccentricity has most likely inflated the radius of GJ 3470b by a factor of ∼1.5–1.7, which could help account for its evaporating atmosphere. 

   more » « less
3. A remnant planetary core in the hot-Neptune desert

   https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-020-2421-7  

   Armstrong, David J.; Lopez, Théo A.; Adibekyan, Vardan; Booth, Richard A.; Bryant, Edward M.; Collins, Karen A.; Deleuil, Magali; Emsenhuber, Alexandre; Huang, Chelsea X.; King, George W.; et al (July 2020, Nature)

   null (Ed.)
4. A New Dark Vortex on Neptune

   https://doi.org/10.3847/1538-3881/aaa6d6  

   Wong, Michael H.; Tollefson, Joshua; Hsu, Andrew I.; Pater, Imke de; Simon, Amy A.; Hueso, Ricardo; Sánchez-Lavega, Agustín; Sromovsky, Lawrence; Fry, Patrick; Luszcz-Cook, Statia; et al (March 2018, The Astronomical Journal)
5. TOI-3568 b: A super-Neptune in the sub-Jovian desert

   https://doi.org/10.1051/0004-6361/202450334  

   Martioli, E; Petrucci, R P; Jofré, E; Hébrard, G; Ghezzi, L; Gómez_Maqueo_Chew, Y; Díaz, R F; Perottoni, H D; Garcia, L H; Rapetti, D; et al (October 2024, Astronomy & Astrophysics)

   The sub-Jovian desert is a region in the mass-period and radius-period parameter space that typically encompasses short-period ranges between super-Earths and hot Jupiters, and exhibits an intrinsic dearth of planets. This scarcity is likely shaped by photoevaporation caused by the stellar irradiation received by giant planets that have migrated inward. We report the detection and characterization of TOI-3568 b, a transiting super-Neptune with a mass of 26.4 ± 1.0 M_⊕, a radius of 5.30 ± 0.27 R_⊕, a bulk density of 0.98 ± 0.15 g cm⁻³, and an orbital period of 4.417965 (5) d situated in the vicinity of the sub-Jovian desert. This planet orbiting a K dwarf star with solar metallicity was identified photometrically by the Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS). It was characterized as a planet by our high-precision radial-velocity (RV) monitoring program using MAROON-X at Gemini North, supplemented with additional observations from the SPICE large program with SPIRou at CFHT. We performed a Bayesian MCMC joint analysis of the TESS and ground-based photometry, and MAROON-X and SPIRou RVs, to measure the orbit, radius, and mass of the planet, as well as a detailed analysis of the high-resolution flux and polarimetric spectra to determine the physical parameters and elemental abundances of the host star. Our results reveal TOI-3568 b to be a hot super-Neptune rich in hydrogen and helium, with a core of heavier elements of between 10 and 25 M_⊕in mass. We analyzed the photoevaporation status of TOI-3568 b and find that it experiences one of the highest extreme-ultraviolet (EUV) luminosities among planets with a mass of M_p< 2 M_Nep, yet it has an evaporation lifetime exceeding 5 Gyr. Positioned in the transition between two significant populations of exoplanets on the mass-period and energy diagrams, this planet presents an opportunity to test theories concerning the origin of the sub-Jovian desert. 

   more » « less