We report the discovery of two short-period massive giant planets from NASAs Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS). Both systems, TOI-558 (TIC 207110080) and TOI-559 (TIC 209459275), were identified from the 30-minute cadence Full Frame Images
and confirmed using ground-based photometric and spectroscopic follow-up observations from TESSs Follow-up Observing Program Working Group. We find that TOI-558 b, which transits an F-dwarf ($M_{star}=1.349^{+0.064}_{-0.065} M_{odot}$, $R_{star}=1.496^{+0.042}_{-0.040} R_{odot}$, $T_{eff}=6466^{+95}_{-93}$ K, age $1.79^{+0.91}_{-0.73}$ Gyr) with an orbital period of 14.574 days, has a mass of $3.61pm0.15 M_J$, a radius of $1.086^{+0.041}_{-0.038} R_J$, and an eccentric (e=$0.300^{+0.022}_{-0.020}$) orbit. TOI-559 b transits a G-dwarf ($M_{star}=1.026pm0.057 M_{odot}$, $R_{star}=1.233^{+0.028}_{-0.026} R_{odot}$, $T_{eff}=5925^{+85}_{-76}$ K, age $1.79^{+0.91}_{-0.73}$ Gyr) in an eccentric (e=$0.151pm0.011$) 6.984-day orbit with a mass of $6.01^{+0.24}_{-0.23} M_J$ and a radius of $1.091^{+0.028}_{-0.025} R_J$. Our spectroscopic follow-up also reveals a long-term radial velocity trend for TOI-559, indicating a long-period companion. The statistically significant orbital eccentricity measured for each system suggests that these planets migrated to their current location through dynamical interactions. Interestingly, both planets are also massive ($>3 M_J$), adding to the population of massive hot Jupiters identified by TESS. Prompted by these new detections of high-mass planets, we analyzed the known mass distribution of hot Jupiters but find no significant evidence for multiple populations. TESS should provide a near magnitude-limited sample of transiting hot Jupiters, allowing for future detailed population studies.
We present the discovery and characterization of five hot and warm Jupiters -- TOI-628 b (TIC 281408474; HD 288842), TOI-640 b (TIC 147977348), TOI-1333 b (TIC 395171208, BD+47 3521A), TOI-1478 b (TIC 409794137), and TOI-1601 b (TIC 139375960) -- bas
ed on data from NASAs Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS). The five planets were identified from the full frame images and were confirmed through a series of photometric and spectroscopic follow-up observations by the $TESS$ Follow-up Observing Program (TFOP) Working Group. The planets are all Jovian size (R$_{rm P}$ = 1.01-1.77 R$_{rm J}$) and have masses that range from 0.85 to 6.33 M$_{rm J}$. The host stars of these systems have F and G spectral types (5595 $le$ T$_{rm eff}$ $le$ 6460 K) and are all relatively bright (9 $<V<$ 10.8, 8.2 $<K<$ 9.3) making them well-suited for future detailed characterization efforts. Three of the systems in our sample (TOI-640 b, TOI-1333 b, and TOI-1601 b) orbit subgiant host stars (log g$_*$ $<$4.1). TOI-640 b is one of only three known hot Jupiters to have a highly inflated radius (R$_{rm P}$ > 1.7R$_{rm J}$, possibly a result of its host stars evolution) and resides on an orbit with a period longer than 5 days. TOI-628 b is the most massive hot Jupiter discovered to date by $TESS$ with a measured mass of $6.31^{+0.28}_{-0.30}$ M$_{rm J}$ and a statistically significant, non-zero orbital eccentricity of e = $0.074^{+0.021}_{-0.022}$. This planet would not have had enough time to circularize through tidal forces from our analysis, suggesting that it might be remnant eccentricity from its migration. The longest period planet in this sample, TOI-1478 b (P = 10.18 days), is a warm Jupiter in a circular orbit around a near-Solar analogue. NASAs $TESS$ mission is continuing to increase the sample of well-characterized hot and warm Jupiters, complementing its primary mission goals.
Although the Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS) primary mission observed the northern and southern ecliptic hemispheres, generally avoiding the ecliptic, and the Kepler space telescope during the K2 mission could only observe near the eclip
tic, many of the K2 fields extend far enough from the ecliptic plane that sections overlap with TESS fields. Using photometric observations from both K2 and TESS, combined with archival spectroscopic observations, we globally modeled four known planetary systems discovered by K2 that were observed in the first year of the primary TESS mission. Specifically, we provide updated ephemerides and system parameters for K2-114 b, K2-167 b, K2-237 b, and K2-261 b. These were some of the first K2 planets to be observed by TESS in the first year and include three Jovian sized planets and a sub-Neptune with orbital periods less than 12 days. In each case, the updated ephemeris significantly reduces the uncertainty in prediction of future times of transit, which is valuable for planning observations with the James Webb Space Telescope and other future facilities. The TESS extended mission is expected to observe about half of the K2 fields, providing the opportunity to perform this type of analysis on a larger number of systems.
Small planets on close-in orbits tend to exhibit envelope mass fractions of either effectively zero or up to a few percent depending on their size and orbital period. Models of thermally-driven atmospheric mass loss and of terrestrial planet formatio
n in a gas-poor environment make distinct predictions regarding the location of this rocky/non-rocky transition in period-radius space. Here we present the confirmation of TOI-1235 b ($P=3.44$ days, $r_p=1.738^{+0.087}_{-0.076}$ R$_{oplus}$), a planet whose size and period are intermediate between the competing model predictions thus making the system an important test case for emergence models of the rocky/non-rocky transition around early M dwarfs ($R_s=0.630pm 0.015$ R$_{odot}$, $M_s=0.640pm 0.016$ M$_{odot}$). We confirm the TESS planet discovery using reconnaissance spectroscopy, ground-based photometry, high-resolution imaging, and a set of 38 precise radial-velocities from HARPS-N and HIRES. We measure a planet mass of $6.91^{+0.75}_{-0.85}$ M$_{oplus}$, which implies an iron core mass fraction of $20^{+15}_{-12}$% in the absence of a gaseous envelope. The bulk composition of TOI-1235 b is therefore consistent with being Earth-like and we constrain a H/He envelope mass fraction to be $<0.5$% at 90% confidence. Our results are consistent with model predictions from thermally-driven atmospheric mass loss but not with gas-poor formation, suggesting that the former class of processes remain efficient at sculpting close-in planets around early M dwarfs. Our RV analysis also reveals a strong periodicity close to the first harmonic of the photometrically-determined stellar rotation period that we treat as stellar activity, despite other lines of evidence favoring a planetary origin ($P=21.8^{+0.9}_{-0.8}$ days, $m_psin{i}=13.0^{+3.8}_{-5.3}$ M$_{oplus}$) that cannot be firmly ruled out by our data.
We report the detection of a Saturn-size exoplanet orbiting HD 332231 (TOI 1456) in light curves from the Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS). HD 332231, an F8 dwarf star with a V-band magnitude of 8.56, was observed by TESS in Sectors 14 an
d 15. We detect a single-transit event in the Sector 15 presearch data conditioning (PDC) light curve. We obtain spectroscopic follow-up observations of HD 332231 with the Automated Planet Finder, Keck I, and SONG telescopes. The orbital period we infer from the radial velocity (RV) observations leads to the discovery of another transit in Sector 14 that was masked by PDC due to scattered light contamination. A joint analysis of the transit and RV data confirms the planetary nature of HD 332231 b, a Saturn-size ($0.867^{+0.027}_{-0.025} ; R_{rm J}$), sub-Saturn-mass ($0.244pm0.021 ; M_{rm J}$) exoplanet on a 18.71 day circular orbit. The low surface gravity of HD 332231 b and the relatively low stellar flux it receives make it a compelling target for transmission spectroscopy. Also, the stellar obliquity is likely measurable via the Rossiter-McLaughlin effect, an exciting prospect given the 0.14 au orbital separation of HD 332231 b. The spectroscopic observations do not provide substantial evidence for any additional planets in the HD 332231 system, but continued RV monitoring is needed to further characterize this system. We also predict that the frequency and duration of masked data in the PDC light curves for TESS Sectors 14-16 could hide transits of some exoplanets with orbital periods between 10.5 and 17.5 days.
We present the confirmation of two new planets transiting the nearby mid-M dwarf LTT 3780 (TIC 36724087, TOI-732, $V=13.07$, $K_s=8.204$, $R_s$=0.374 R$_{odot}$, $M_s$=0.401 M$_{odot}$, d=22 pc). The two planet candidates are identified in a single T
ESS sector and are validated with reconnaissance spectroscopy, ground-based photometric follow-up, and high-resolution imaging. With measured orbital periods of $P_b=0.77$ days, $P_c=12.25$ days and sizes $r_{p,b}=1.33pm 0.07$ R$_{oplus}$, $r_{p,c}=2.30pm 0.16$ R$_{oplus}$, the two planets span the radius valley in period-radius space around low mass stars thus making the system a laboratory to test competing theories of the emergence of the radius valley in that stellar mass regime. By combining 63 precise radial-velocity measurements from HARPS and HARPS-N, we measure planet masses of $m_{p,b}=2.62^{+0.48}_{-0.46}$ M$_{oplus}$ and $m_{p,c}=8.6^{+1.6}_{-1.3}$ M$_{oplus}$, which indicates that LTT 3780b has a bulk composition consistent with being Earth-like, while LTT 3780c likely hosts an extended H/He envelope. We show that the recovered planetary masses are consistent with predictions from both photoevaporation and from core-powered mass loss models. The brightness and small size of LTT 3780, along with the measured planetary parameters, render LTT 3780b and c as accessible targets for atmospheric characterization of planets within the same planetary system and spanning the radius valley.
We present $Spitzer$ 4.5$mu$m observations of the transit of TOI-700 d, a habitable zone Earth-sized planet in a multiplanet system transiting a nearby M-dwarf star (TIC 150428135, 2MASS J06282325-6534456). TOI-700 d has a radius of $1.144^{+0.062}_{
-0.061}R_oplus$ and orbits within its host stars conservative habitable zone with a period of 37.42 days ($T_mathrm{eq} sim 269$K). TOI-700 also hosts two small inner planets (R$_b$=$1.037^{+0.065}_{-0.064}R_oplus$ & R$_c$=$2.65^{+0.16}_{-0.15}R_oplus$) with periods of 9.98 and 16.05 days, respectively. Our $Spitzer$ observations confirm the TESS detection of TOI-700 d and remove any remaining doubt that it is a genuine planet. We analyze the $Spitzer$ light curve combined with the 11 sectors of TESS observations and a transit of TOI-700 c from the LCOGT network to determine the full system parameters. Although studying the atmosphere of TOI-700 d is not likely feasible with upcoming facilities, it may be possible to measure the mass of TOI-700 d using state-of-the-art radial velocity instruments (expected RV semi-amplitude of $sim$70 cm/s).
We present the discoveries of KELT-25b (TIC 65412605, TOI-626.01) and KELT-26b (TIC 160708862, TOI-1337.01), two transiting companions orbiting relatively bright, early A-stars. The transit signals were initially detected by the KELT survey, and subs
equently confirmed by textit{TESS} photometry. KELT-25b is on a 4.40-day orbit around the V = 9.66 star CD-24 5016 ($T_{rm eff} = 8280^{+440}_{-180}$ K, $M_{star}$ = $2.18^{+0.12}_{-0.11}$ $M_{odot}$), while KELT-26b is on a 3.34-day orbit around the V = 9.95 star HD 134004 ($T_{rm eff}$ =$8640^{+500}_{-240}$ K, $M_{star}$ = $1.93^{+0.14}_{-0.16}$ $M_{odot}$), which is likely an Am star. We have confirmed the sub-stellar nature of both companions through detailed characterization of each system using ground-based and textit{TESS} photometry, radial velocity measurements, Doppler Tomography, and high-resolution imaging. For KELT-25, we determine a companion radius of $R_{rm P}$ = $1.64^{+0.039}_{-0.043}$ $R_{rm J}$, and a 3-sigma upper limit on the companions mass of $sim64~M_{rm J}$. For KELT-26b, we infer a planetary mass and radius of $M_{rm P}$ = $1.41^{+0.43}_{-0.51}$ $M_{rm J}$ and $R_{rm P}$ = $1.940^{+0.060}_{-0.058}$ $R_{rm J}$. From Doppler Tomographic observations, we find KELT-26b to reside in a highly misaligned orbit. This conclusion is weakly corroborated by a subtle asymmetry in the transit light curve from the textit{TESS} data. KELT-25b appears to be in a well-aligned, prograde orbit, and the system is likely a member of a cluster or moving group.
The exoplanet HD 118203 b, orbiting a bright (V = 8.05) host star, was discovered using the radial velocity method by da Silva et al. (2006), but was not previously known to transit. TESS photometry has revealed that this planet transits its host sta
r. Five planetary transits were observed by TESS, allowing us to measure the radius of the planet to be $1.133 pm 0.031 R_J$, and to calculate the planet mass to be $2.173 pm 0.078 M_J$. The host star is slightly evolved with an effective temperature of $T_{rm eff} = 5692 pm 83$ K and a surface gravity of ${rm log}(g) = 3.891 pm 0.019$. With an orbital period of $6.134980 pm 0.000038$ days and an eccentricity of $0.316 pm 0.021$, the planet occupies a transitional regime between circularized hot Jupiters and more dynamically active planets at longer orbital periods. The host star is among the ten brightest known to have transiting giant planets, providing opportunities for both planetary atmospheric and asteroseismic studies.
We present the next generation public exoplanet fitting software, EXOFASTv2. It is capable of fitting an arbitrary number of planets, radial velocity data sets, astrometric data sets, and/or transits observed with any combination of wavelengths. We m
odel the star simultaneously in the fit and provide several state-of-the-art ways to constrain its properties, including taking advantage of the now-ubiquitous all-sky catalog photometry and Gaia parallaxes. EXOFASTv2 can model the star by itself, too. Multi-planet systems are modeled self-consistently with the same underlying stellar mass that defines their semi-major axes through Keplers law and the planetary period. Transit timing, duration, and depth variations can be modeled with a simple command line option. We explain our methodology and rationale as well as provide an improved version of the core transit model that is both 25% faster and more accurate. We highlight several potential pitfalls in exoplanet modeling, including the handling of eccentricity in transit-only fits, that the standard exoplanet convention for $omega$ uses a left-handed coordinate system, contrary to most modern textbooks, how to avoid an important degeneracy when allowing negative companion masses, and a widely unappreciated, potential 10-minute ambiguity in the reported transit times. EXOFASTv2 is available at https://github.com/jdeast/EXOFASTv2 . The code is written in IDL, and includes an executable that can be run freely and legally without an IDL license or any knowledge of the language. Extensive documentation and tutorials are included in the distribution for a variety of example fits. Advanced amateurs and undergrads have successfully performed sophisticated global fits of complex planetary systems with EXOFASTv2. It is therefore a powerful tool for education and outreach as well as the broader professional community.
