Abstract Mature super-Earths and sub-Neptunes are predicted to be ≃ Jovian radius when younger than 10 Myr. Thus, we expect to find 5–15R⊕planets around young stars even if their older counterparts harbor none. We report the discovery and validation of TOI 1227b, a 0.85 ± 0.05RJ(9.5R⊕) planet transiting a very-low-mass star (0.170 ± 0.015M⊙) every 27.4 days. TOI 1227's kinematics and strong lithium absorption confirm that it is a member of a previously discovered subgroup in the Lower Centaurus Crux OB association, which we designate the Musca group. We derive an age of 11 ± 2 Myr for Musca, based on lithium, rotation, and the color–magnitude diagram of Musca members. The TESS data and ground-based follow-up show a deep (2.5%) transit. We use multiwavelength transit observations and radial velocities from the IGRINS spectrograph to validate the signal as planetary in nature, and we obtain an upper limit on the planet mass of ≃0.5MJ. Because such large planets are exceptionally rare around mature low-mass stars, we suggest that TOI 1227b is still contracting and will eventually turn into one of the more common <5R⊕planets.
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TESS Hunt for Young and Maturing Exoplanets (THYME). X. A Two-planet System in the 210 Myr MELANGE-5 Association
Abstract Young (<500 Myr) planets are critical to studying how planets form and evolve. Among these young planetary systems, multiplanet configurations are particularly useful, as they provide a means to control for variables within a system. Here, we report the discovery and characterization of a young planetary system, TOI-1224. We show that the planet host resides within a young population we denote as MELANGE-5. By employing a range of age-dating methods—isochrone fitting, lithium abundance analysis, gyrochronology, and Gaia excess variability—we estimate the age of MELANGE-5 to be 210 ± 27 Myr. MELANGE-5 is situated in close proximity to previously identified younger (80–110 Myr) associations, Crius 221 and Theia 424/Volans-Carina, motivating further work to map out the group boundaries. In addition to a planet candidate detected by the TESS pipeline and alerted as a TESS object of interest, TOI-1224 b, we identify a second planet, TOI-1224 c, using custom search tools optimized for young stars (NotchandLOCoR). We find that the planets are 2.10 ± 0.09R⊕and 2.88 ± 0.10R⊕and orbit their host star every 4.18 and 17.95 days, respectively. With their bright (K= 9.1 mag), small (R*= 0.44R⊙), and cool (Teff= 3326 K) host star, these planets represent excellent candidates for atmospheric characterization with JWST.
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- Award ID(s):
- 2143763
- PAR ID:
- 10577513
- Author(s) / Creator(s):
- ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; more »
- Publisher / Repository:
- The Astronomical Journal // ArXiV
- Date Published:
- Journal Name:
- The Astronomical Journal
- Volume:
- 168
- Issue:
- 1
- ISSN:
- 0004-6256
- Page Range / eLocation ID:
- 41
- Subject(s) / Keyword(s):
- Exoplanet astronomy (486) Transit photometry (1709) Stellar ages (1581) Young star clusters (1833) Stellar activity (1580) Transit timing variation method (1710)
- Format(s):
- Medium: X
- Sponsoring Org:
- National Science Foundation
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