The L 98-59 system : three transiting, terrestrial-size planets orbiting a nearby M dwarf
Abstract
We report the Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS) discovery of three terrestrial-size planets transiting L 98-59 (TOI-175, TIC 307210830)—a bright M dwarf at a distance of 10.6 pc. Using the Gaia-measured distance and broadband photometry, we find that the host star is an M3 dwarf. Combined with the TESS transits from three sectors, the corresponding stellar parameters yield planet radii ranging from 0.8 R ⊕ to 1.6 R ⊕. All three planets have short orbital periods, ranging from 2.25 to 7.45 days with the outer pair just wide of a 2:1 period resonance. Diagnostic tests produced by the TESS Data Validation Report and the vetting package DAVE rule out common false-positive sources. These analyses, along with dedicated follow-up and the multiplicity of the system, lend confidence that the observed signals are caused by planets transiting L 98-59 and are not associated with other sources in the field. The L 98-59 system is interesting for a number of reasons: the host star is bright (V = 11.7 mag, K = 7.1 mag) and the planets are prime targets for further follow-up observations including precision radial-velocity mass measurements and future transit spectroscopy with the James Webb Space Telescope; the near-resonant configuration makes the system a laboratory to study planetary system dynamical evolution; and three planets of relatively similar size in the same system present an opportunity to study terrestrial planets where other variables (age, metallicity, etc.) can be held constant. L 98-59 will be observed in four more TESS sectors, which will provide a wealth of information on the three currently known planets and have the potential to reveal additional planets in the system.
Citation
Kostov , V B , Schlieder , J E , Barclay , T , Quintana , E V , Colon , K D , Brande , J , Collins , K A , Feinstein , A D , Hadden , S , Kane , S R , Kreidberg , L , Kruse , E , Lam , C , Matthews , E , Montet , B T , Pozuelos , F J , Stassun , K G , Winters , J G , Ricker , G , Vanderspek , R , Latham , D , Seager , S , Winn , J , Jenkins , J M , Afanasev , D , Armstrong , J J D , Arney , G , Boyd , P , Barentsen , G , Barkaoui , K , Batalha , N E , Beichman , C , Bayliss , D , Burke , C , Burdanov , A , Cacciapuoti , L , Carson , A , Charbonneau , D , Christiansen , J , Ciardi , D , Clampin , M , Collins , K I , Conti , D M , Coughlin , J , Covone , G , Crossfield , I , Delrez , L , Domagal-Goldman , S , Dressing , C , Ducrot , E , Essack , Z , Everett , M E , Fauchez , T , Foreman-Mackey , D , Gan , T , Gilbert , E , Gillon , M , Gonzales , E , Hamann , A , Hedges , C , Hocutt , H , Hoffman , K , Horch , E P , Horne , K , Howell , S , Hynes , S , Ireland , M , Irwin , J M , Isopi , G , Jensen , E L N , Jehin , E , Kaltenegger , L , Kielkopf , J F , Kopparapu , R , Lewis , N , Lopez , E , Lissauer , J J , Mann , A W , Mallia , F , Mandell , A , Matson , R A , Mazeh , T , Monsue , T , Moran , S E , Moran , V , Morley , C V , Morris , B , Muirhead , P , Mukai , K , Mullally , S , Mullally , F , Murray , C , Narita , N , Palle , E , Pidhorodetska , D , Quinn , D , Relles , H , Rinehart , S , Ritsko , M , Rodriguez , J E , Rowden , P , Rowe , J F , Sebastian , D , Sefako , R , Shahaf , S , Shporer , A , Tañón Reyes , N , Tenenbaum , P , Ting , E B , Twicken , J D , van Belle , G T , Vega , L , Volosin , J , Walkowicz , L M & Youngblood , A 2019 , ' The L 98-59 system : three transiting, terrestrial-size planets orbiting a nearby M dwarf ' , Astronomical Journal , vol. 158 , no. 1 , 32 . https://doi.org/10.3847/1538-3881/ab2459
Publication
Astronomical Journal
Status
Peer reviewed
ISSN
0004-6256Type
Journal article
Rights
© 2019, American Astronomical Society. This work has been made available online in accordance with the publisher's policies. This is the author created accepted version manuscript following peer review and as such may differ slightly from the final published version. The final published version of this work is available at https://doi.org/10.3847/1538-3881/ab2459
Description
Funding: UK STFC grant ST/R000824/1 (K.H.).Collections
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