Planetary Mass Research Articles

TOI-1685 b Is a Hot Rocky Super-Earth: Updates to the Stellar and Planet Parameters of a Popular JWST Cycle 2 Target

We present an updated characterization of the TOI-1685 planetary system, which consists of a P b = 0.69 day ultra-short-period super-Earth planet orbiting a nearby (d = 37.6 pc) M2.5V star (TIC 28900646, 2MASS J04342248+4302148). This planet was previously featured in two contemporaneous discovery papers, but the best-fit planet mass, radius, and bulk density values were discrepant, allowing it to be interpreted either as a hot, bare rock or a 50% H2O/50% MgSiO3 water world. TOI-1685 b will be observed in three independent JWST Cycle 2 programs, two of which assume the planet is a water world, while the third assumes that it is a hot rocky planet. Here we include a refined stellar classification with a focus on addressing the host star’s metallicity, an updated planet radius measurement that includes two sectors of TESS data and multicolor photometry from a variety of ground-based facilities, and a more accurate dynamical mass measurement from a combined CARMENES, InfraRed Doppler, and MAROON-X radial velocity data set. We find that the star is very metal-rich ([Fe/H] ≃ +0.3) and that the planet is systematically smaller, lower mass, and higher density than initially reported, with new best-fit parameters of R pl = 1.468 −0.051+0.050 R ⊕ and M pl = 3.03−0.32+0.33 M ⊕. These results fall in between the previously derived values and suggest that TOI-1685 b is a hot rocky planet with an Earth-like density (ρ pl = 5.3 ± 0.8 g cm−3, or 0.96 ρ ⊕), high equilibrium temperature (T eq = 1062 ± 27 K), and negligible volatiles, rather than a water world.

Repelling Planet Pairs by Ping-pong Scattering

The Kepler mission reveals a peculiar trough-peak feature in the orbital spacing of close-in planets near mean-motion resonances: a deficit and an excess that are, respectively, a couple of percent interior to and wide of the resonances. This feature has received two main classes of explanations: one involving eccentricity damping and the other scattering with small bodies. Here, we point out a few issues with the damping scenario and study the scattering scenario in more detail. We elucidate why scattering small bodies tends to repel two planets. As the small bodies random-walk in energy and angular momentum space, they tend to absorb fractionally more energy than angular momentum. This, which we call “ping-pong repulsion,” transports angular momentum from the inner to the outer planet and pushes the two planets apart. Such a process, even if ubiquitous, leaves identifiable marks only near first-order resonances: diverging pairs jump across the resonance quickly and produce the mean-motion resonance asymmetry. To explain the observed positions of the trough-peaks, a total scattering mass of order a few percent of the planet masses is required. Moreover, if this mass is dominated by a handful of Mercury-sized bodies, one can also explain the planet eccentricities as inferred from transit-time variations. Last, we suggest how these conditions may have naturally arisen during the late stages of planet formation.

Giant planet formation in the Solar System

The formation history of Jupiter has been of interest due to its ability to shape the solar system’s history. Yet little attention has been paid to the formation and growth of Saturn and the other giant planets. Here we explore through N-body simulations the implications of the simplest disc and pebble accretion model with steady-state accretion and an assumed ring structure in the disc at 5 AU on the formation of the giant planets in the solar system. We conducted a statistical survey of different disc parameters and initial conditions of the protoplanetary disc to establish which combination best reproduces the present outer solar system. We examined the effect of the initial planetesimal disc mass, the number of planetesimals and their size-frequency distribution slope, pebble accretion prescription and sticking efficiency on the likelihood of forming gas giants and their orbital distribution. The results reveal that the accretion sticking efficiency is the most sensitive parameter to control the final masses and number of giant planets. We have been unable to replicate the formation of all three types of giant planets in the solar system in a single simulation. The probability distribution of the final location of the giant planets is approximately constant in logr, suggesting there is a slight preference for formation closer to the Sun but no preference for more massive planets to form closer. The eccentricity distribution has a higher mean for more massive planets indicating that systems with more massive planets are more violent. We compute the average formation time for proto-Jupiter to reach 10 Earth masses to be 〈tc,J〉=1.1±0.3 Myr and for proto-Saturn 〈tc,S〉=3.3±0.4 Myr, while for the ice giants this increases to 〈tc,I〉=4.9±0.1 Myr. The formation timescales of the cores of the gas giants are distinct at >95% confidence, suggesting that they formed sequentially.

A low-mass sub-Neptune planet transiting the bright active star HD 73344

Context. Planets with radii of between 2 and 4 R⊕ closely orbiting solar-type stars are of significant importance for studying the transition from rocky to giant planets, and are prime targets for atmospheric characterization by missions such as JWST and ARIEL. Unfortunately, only a handful of examples with precise mass measurements are known to orbit bright stars. Aims. Our goal is to determine the mass of a transiting planet around the very bright F6 star HD 73344 (Vmag = 6.9). This star exhibits high activity and has a rotation period that is close to the orbital period of the planet (Pb = 15.6 days). Methods. The transiting planet, initially a K2 candidate, is confirmed through TESS observations (TOI 5140.01). We refined its parameters using TESS data and rule out a false positive with Spitzer observations. We analyzed high-precision radial velocity (RV) data from the SOPHIE and HIRES spectrographs. We conducted separate and joint analyses of K2, TESS, SOPHIE, and HIRES data using the PASTIS software. Given the star’s early type and high activity, we used a novel observing strategy, targeting the star at high cadence for two consecutive nights with SOPHIE to understand the short-term stellar variability. We modeled stellar noise with two Gaussian processes: one for rotationally modulated stellar processes, and one for short-term stellar variability. Results. High-cadence RV observations provide better constraints on stellar variability and precise orbital parameters for the transiting planet: a radius of Rb = 2.88−0.07+0.08 R⊕ and a mass of Mb = 2.98−1.90+2.50 M⊕ (upper-limit at 3σ is <10.48 M⊕). The derived mean density suggests a sub-Neptune-type composition, but uncertainties in the planet’s mass prevent a detailed characterization. In addition, we find a periodic signal in the RV data that we attribute to the signature of a nontransiting exoplanet, without totally excluding the possibility of a nonplanetary origin. This planetary candidate would have a minimum mass of about Mc sin ic = 116.3 ± −13.0+12.8 M⊕ and a period of Pc = 66.45−0.25+0.10 days. Dynamical analyses confirm the stability of the two-planet system and provide constraints on the inclination of the candidate planet; these findings favor a near-coplanar system. Conclusions. While the transiting planet orbits the bright star at a short period, stellar activity prevented us from precise mass measurements despite intensive RV follow-up. Long-term RV tracking of this planet could improve this measurement, as well as our understanding of the activity of the host star. The latter will be essential if we are to characterize the atmosphere of planets around F-type stars using transmission spectroscopy.

Isotopic variation of non-carbonaceous meteorites caused by dust leakage across the Jovian gap in the solar nebula

Abstract High-precision isotopic measurements of meteorites revealed that they are classified into non-carbonaceous (NC) and carbonaceous (CC) meteorites. One plausible scenario for achieving this grouping is the early formation of Jupiter, because massive planets can create gaps that suppress the mixing of dust across the gap in protoplanetary disks. However, the efficiency of this suppression by the gaps depends on dust size and the strength of turbulent diffusion, allowing some fraction of the dust particles to leak across the Jovian gap. In this study, we investigate how isotopic ratios of NC and CC meteorites are varied by the dust leaking across the Jovian gap in the solar nebula. To do this, we constructed a model to simulate the evolution of the dust size distribution and the $^{54}$Cr-isotopic anomaly $\varepsilon ^{54}$Cr in isotopically heterogeneous disks with Jupiter. Assuming that the parent bodies of NC and CC meteorites are formed in two dust-concentrated locations inside and outside Jupiter’s orbit, referred to as the NC reservoir and the CC reservoir, we derive the temporal variation of $\varepsilon ^{54}$Cr at the NC and CC reservoirs. Our results indicate that substantial contamination from CC materials occurs at the NC reservoir in the fiducial run. Nevertheless, the values of $\varepsilon ^{54}$Cr at the NC reservoir and the CC reservoir in the run are still consistent with those of NC and CC meteorites formed around $2\:$Myr after the formation of calcium–aluminum-rich inclusions (Sugiura & Fujiya 2014, Meteorit. Planet. Sci., 49, 772). Moreover, this dust leakage causes a positive correlation between the $\varepsilon ^{54}$Cr value of NC meteorites and the accretion ages of their parent bodies.

TOI-1173 A b: The First Inflated Super-Neptune in a Wide Binary System

Among Neptunian mass exoplanets (20−50 M ⊕), puffy hot Neptunes are extremely rare, and their unique combination of low mass and extended radii implies very low density (ρ < 0.3 g cm−3). Over the last decade, only a few puffy planets have been detected and precisely characterized with both transit and radial velocity observations, most notably including WASP-107 b, TOI-1420 b, and WASP-193 b. In this paper, we report the discovery of TOI-1173 A b, a low-density ( ρ=0.195−0.017+0.018 g cm−3) super-Neptune with P = 7.06 days in a nearly circular orbit around the primary G-dwarf star in the wide binary system TOI-1173 A/B. Using radial velocity observations with the MAROON-X and HIRES spectrographs and transit photometry from TESS, we determine a planet mass of M p = 27.4 ± 1.7 M ⊕ and radius of R p = 9.19 ± 0.18 R ⊕. TOI-1173 A b is the first puffy super-Neptune planet detected in a wide binary system (projected separation ∼11,400 au). We explore several mechanisms to understand the puffy nature of TOI-1173 A b and show that tidal heating is the most promising explanation. Furthermore, we demonstrate that TOI-1173 A b likely has maintained its orbital stability over time and may have undergone von-Zeipel–Lidov–Kozai migration followed by tidal circularization, given its present-day architecture, with important implications for planet migration theory and induced engulfment into the host star. Further investigation of the atmosphere of TOI-1173 A b will shed light on the origin of close-in low-density Neptunian planets in field and binary systems, while spin–orbit analyses may elucidate the dynamical evolution of the system.

Fate of a remnant solid disk around an eccentric giant planet

The composition of giant planets' atmospheres is an important tracer of their formation history. While many theoretical studies investigate the heavy-element accretion within a gaseous protoplanetary disk, the possibility of solid accretion after disk dissipation has not been explored. Here, we focus on the case of a gas giant planet excited to an eccentric orbit and assess the likelihood of solid accretion after disk dissipation. We follow the orbital evolution of the surrounding solid materials and investigate the scattering and accretion of heavy elements in the remnant solid disks. We perform N-body simulations of planetesimals and embryos around an eccentric giant planet. We consider various sizes and orbits for the eccentric planet and determine the fate of planetesimals and embryos. We find that the orbital evolution of solids, such as planetesimals and embryos, is regulated by weak encounters with the eccentric planet rather than strong close encounters. Even in the region where the Safronov number is smaller than unity, most solid materials fall onto the central star or are ejected from the planetary system. We also develop an analytical model of the solid accretion along the orbital evolution of a giant planet, where the accretion probability is obtained as a function of the planetary mass, radius, semi-major axis, eccentricity, inclination, and solid disk thickness. Our model predicts that sim 0.01-0.1 $M_ of solids is accreted onto an eccentric planet orbiting in the outer disk ($ The accreted heavy-element mass increases (decreases) with the eccentricity (inclination) of the planet. We also discuss the possibility of collisions of terrestrial planets and find that $ of the hot Jupiters formed via high-eccentric migration collide with a planet of $10M_ However, we find that solid accretion and collisions with terrestrial planets are minor events for planets in the inner orbit, and a different accretion process is required to enrich eccentric giant planets with heavy elements.

Unveiling MOA-2007-BLG-192: An M Dwarf Hosting a Likely Super-Earth

We present an analysis of high-angular-resolution images of the microlensing target MOA-2007-BLG-192 using Keck adaptive optics and the Hubble Space Telescope. The planetary host star is robustly detected as it separates from the background source star in nearly all of the Keck and Hubble data. The amplitude and direction of the lens–source separation allows us to break a degeneracy related to the microlensing parallax and source radius crossing time. Thus, we are able to reduce the number of possible binary-lens solutions by a factor of ∼2, demonstrating the power of high-angular-resolution follow-up imaging for events with sparse light-curve coverage. Following Bennett et al., we apply constraints from the high-resolution imaging on the light-curve modeling to find host star and planet masses of M host = 0.28 ± 0.04 M ☉ and mp=12.49−8.03+65.47M⊕ at a distance from Earth of D L = 2.16 ± 0.30 kpc. This work illustrates the necessity for the Nancy Grace Roman Galactic Exoplanet Survey to use its own high-resolution imaging to inform light-curve modeling for microlensing planets that the mission discovers.

Eccentricity and inclination of massive planets inside low-density cavities: results of 3D simulations

ABSTRACT We study the evolution of eccentricity and inclination of massive planets in low-density cavities of protoplanetary discs using three-dimensional (3D) simulations. When the planet’s orbit is aligned with the equatorial plane of the disc, the eccentricity increases to high values of 0.7–0.9 due to the resonant interaction with the inner parts of the disc. For planets on inclined orbits, the eccentricity increases due to the Kozai–Lidov mechanism, where the disc acts as an external massive body, which perturbs the planet’s orbit. At small inclination angles, ${\lesssim}30^\circ$, the resonant interaction with the inner disc strongly contributes to the eccentricity growth, while at larger angles, eccentricity growth is mainly due to the Kozai–Lidov mechanism. We conclude that planets inside low-density cavities tend to acquire high eccentricity if favourable conditions give sufficient time for growth. The final value of the planet’s eccentricity after the disc dispersal depends on the planet’s mass and the properties of the cavity and protoplanetary disc.

Extensive Pollution of Uranus and Neptune’s Atmospheres by Upsweep of Icy Material during the Nice Model Migration

In the Nice model of Solar System formation, Uranus and Neptune undergo an orbital upheaval, sweeping through a planetesimal disk. The region of the disk from which material is accreted by the ice giants during this phase of their evolution has not previously been identified. We perform direct N-body orbital simulations of the four giant planets to determine the amount and origin of solid accretion during this orbital upheaval. We find that the ice giants undergo an extreme bombardment event, with collision rates as high as ∼3 per hour assuming km-sized planetesimals, increasing the total planet mass by up to ∼0.35%. In all cases, the initially outermost ice giant experiences the largest total enhancement. We determine that, for some plausible planetesimal properties, the resulting atmospheric enrichment could potentially produce sufficient latent heat to alter the planetary cooling timescale according to existing models. Our findings suggest that substantial accretion during this phase of planetary evolution may have been sufficient to impact the atmospheric composition and thermal evolution of the ice giants, motivating future work on the fate of deposited solid material.

Systematic KMTNet Planetary Anomaly Search. XII. Complete Sample of 2017 Subprime Field Planets

We report the analysis of four unambiguous planets and one possible planet from the subprime fields (Γ ≤ 1 hr−1) of the 2017 Korea Microlensing Telescope Network (KMTNet) microlensing survey, to complete the KMTNet AnomalyFinder planetary sample for the 2017 subprime fields. They are KMT-2017-BLG-0849, KMT-2017-BLG-1057, OGLE-2017-BLG-0364, and KMT-2017-BLG-2331 (unambiguous), as well as KMT-2017-BLG-0958 (possible). For the four unambiguous planets, the mean planet–host mass ratios, q, are (1.0, 1.2, 4.6, 13) × 10−4, the median planetary masses are (6.4, 24, 76, 171) M ⊕, and the median host masses are (0.19, 0.57, 0.49, 0.40) M ⊙, respectively, found from a Bayesian analysis. We have completed the Anomaly Finder planetary sample from the first 4 yr of KMTNet data (2016–2019), with 112 unambiguous planets in total, which nearly tripled the microlensing planetary sample. The “sub-Saturn desert” ( logq=−3.6,−3.0 ) found in the 2018 and 2019 KMTNet samples is confirmed by the 2016 and 2017 KMTNet samples.

Constraints on PDS 70 b and c from the dust continuum emission of the circumplanetary discs considering in situ dust evolution

Context. The young T Tauri star PDS 70 has two gas accreting planets sharing one large gap in a pre-transitional disc. Dust continuum emission from PDS 70 c has been detected by Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA) Band 7, considered as the evidence of a circumplanetary disc. However, there has been no detection of the dust emission from the CPD of PDS 70 b. Aims. We constrain the planet mass and the gas accretion rate of the planets by introducing a model of dust evolution in the CPDs and reproducing the detection and non-detection of the dust emission. Methods. We first develop a 1D steady gas disc model of the CPDs reflecting the planet properties. We then calculate the radial distribution of the dust profiles considering the dust evolution in the gas disc and calculate the total flux density of dust thermal emission from the CPDs. Results. We find positive correlations between the flux density of dust emission and three planet properties, the planet mass, gas accretion rate, and their product called ‘MMdot’. We then find that the MMdot of PDS 70 c is ≥4 × 10−7 MJ2 yr−1, corresponding to the planet mass of ≥5 MJ and the gas accretion rate of ≥2 × 10−8 MJ yr−1. This is the first case to succeed in obtaining constraints on planet properties from the flux density of dust continuum emission from a CPD. We also find some loose constraints on the properties of PDS 70 b from the non-detection of its dust emission. Conclusions. We propose possible scenarios for PDS 70 b and c explaining the non-detection respectively detection of the dust emission from their CPDs. The first explanation is that planet c has larger planet mass, larger gas accretion rate, or both than planet b. The other possibility is that the CPD of planet c has a larger amount of dust supply, weaker turbulence, or both than that of planet b. If the dust supply to planet c is larger than b due to its closeness to the outer dust ring, it is also quantitatively consistent with that planet c has weaker Hα line emission than planet b considering the dust extinction effect.

How planets grow by pebble accretion

The characterization of super-Earth- to Neptune-sized exoplanets relies heavily on our understanding of their formation and evolution. In this study, we link a model of planet formation by pebble accretion to the planets’ long-term observational properties by calculating the interior evolution, starting from the dissipation of the protoplanetary disk. We investigate the evolution of the interior structure in 5–20 M⊕ planets, accounting for silicate redistribution caused by convective mixing, rainout (condensation and settling), and mass loss. Specifically, we have followed the fate of the hot silicate vapor that remained in the planet’s envelope after planet formation as the planet cools. We find that disk dissipation is followed by a rapid contraction of the envelope from the Hill or Bondi radius to about one-tenth of that size within 10 Myr. Subsequent cooling leads to substantial growth of the planetary core through silicate rainout accompanied by inflated radii, in comparison to the standard models of planets that formed with core-envelope structure. We examined the dependence of rainout on the planet’s envelope mass, on the distance from its host star, on its silicate mass, and on the atmospheric opacity. We find that the population of planets that formed with polluted envelopes can be roughly divided into three groups based on the mass of their gas envelopes: bare rocky cores that have shed their envelopes, super-Earth planets with a core-envelope structure, and Neptune-like planets with diluted cores that undergo gradual rainout. For polluted planets that formed with envelope masses below 0.4 M⊕, we anticipate that the inflation of the planet’s radius caused by rainout will enhance the mass loss by a factor of 2–8 compared to planets with unpolluted envelopes. Our model bridges the gap between the predicted composition gradients in massive planets and the core-envelope structure in smaller planets.

Planet-driven spirals in protoplanetary discs: Limitations of the semi-analytical theory for observations

Context. Detecting protoplanets during their formation stage is an important but elusive goal of modern astronomy. Kinematic detections via the spiral wakes in the gaseous disc are a promising avenue to achieve this goal. Aims. We aim to test the applicability of a commonly used semi-analytical model for planet-induced spiral waves to observations in the low and intermediate planet mass regimes. In contrast to previous works that proposed using the semi-analytical model to interpret observations, in this study we analyse for the first time both the structure of the velocity and density perturbations. Methods. We ran a set of FARGO3D hydrodynamic simulations and compared them with the output of the semi-analytic model in the code WAKEFLOW. We divided the disc into two regions. We used the density and velocity fields from the simulation in the linear region, where density waves are excited. In the non-linear region, where density waves propagate through the disc, we then solved Burgers’ equation to obtain the density field, from which we computed the velocity field. Results. We find that the velocity field derived from the analytic theory is discontinuous at the interface between the linear and nonlinear regions. After ~0.2 rp from the planet, the behaviour of the velocity field closely follows that of the density perturbations. In the low mass limit, the analytical model is in qualitative agreement with the simulations, although it underestimates the azimuthal width and the amplitude of the perturbations, predicting a stronger decay but a slower azimuthal advance of the shock fronts. In the intermediate regime, the discrepancy increases, resulting in a different pitch angle between the spirals of the simulations and the analytic model. Conclusions. The implementation of a fitting procedure based on the minimisation of intensity residuals is bound to fail due to the deviation in pitch angle between the analytic model and the simulations. In order to apply this model to observations, it needs to be revisited so that it can also account for higher planet masses.

Free-floating Planets, Survivor Planets, Captured Planets, and Binary Planets from Stellar Flybys

In star clusters, close stellar encounters can strongly impact the architecture of a planetary system or even destroy it. We present a systematic study of the effects of stellar flybys on two-planet systems. When such a system experiences flybys, one or both planets can be ejected, forming free-floating planets (FFPs), captured planets (CPs) around the flyby star, and free-floating binary planets (BPs); the remaining single-surviving planets (SSPs) can have their orbital radii and eccentricities greatly changed. Through numerical experiments, we calculate the formation fractions (or branching ratios) of FFPs, SSPs, CPs, and BPs as a function of the pericenter distance of the flyby, and use them to derive analytical expressions for the formation rates of FFPs, SSPs, CPs and BPs in general cluster environments. We find that the production rates of FFPs and SSPs are similar (for the initial planet semimajor axis ratio a 1/a 2 = 0.6–0.8), while the rate for CPs is a few times smaller. The formation fraction of BPs depends strongly on a 1/a 2 and on the planet masses. For Jupiter-mass planets, the formation fraction of BPs is always less than 1% (for a 1/a 2 = 0.8) and typically much smaller (≲0.2% for a 1/a 2 ≲ 0.7). The fraction remains less than 1% when considering 4M J planets. Overall, when averaging over all flybys, the production rate of BPs is less than 0.1% of that of FFPs. We also derive the velocity distribution of FFPs produced by stellar flybys, and the orbital parameter distributions of SSPs, CPs, and BPs. These results can be used in future studies of exotic planets (including FFPs) and planetary systems.

Three-temperature radiation hydrodynamics with PLUTO: Thermal and kinematic signatures of accreting protoplanets

In circumstellar disks around young stars, the gravitational influence of nascent planets produces telltale patterns in density, temperature, and kinematics. To better understand these signatures, we first performed 3D hydrodynamical simulations of a 0.012 M⊙ disk with a Saturn-mass planet orbiting circularly in-plane at 40 au. We tested four different disk thermodynamic prescriptions (in increasing order of complexity: local isothermality, β cooling, two-temperature radiation hydrodynamics, and three-temperature radiation hydrodynamics), finding that β cooling offers a reasonable approximation for the three-temperature approach when the planet is not massive or luminous enough to substantially alter the background temperature and density structure. Thereafter, using the three-temperature scheme, we relaxed this assumption, simulating a range of different planet masses (Neptune-mass, Saturn-mass, and Jupiter-mass) and accretion luminosities (0 and 10−3 L⊙) in the same disk. Our investigation revealed that signatures of disk–planet interaction strengthen with increasing planet mass, with circumplanetary flows becoming prominent in the high-planet-mass regime. Accretion luminosity, which adds pressure support around the planet, was found to weaken the midplane Doppler flip, which is potentially visible in optically thin tracers such as C18O, while strengthening the spiral signature, particularly in upper disk layers sensitive to thicker lines, such as those of 12CO.

KMT-2023-BLG-1866Lb: Microlensing super-Earth around an M dwarf host

Aims. We aim to investigate the nature of the short-term anomaly that appears in the lensing light curve of KMT-2023-BLG-1866. The anomaly was only partly covered due to its short duration of less than a day, coupled with cloudy weather conditions and a restricted nighttime duration. Methods. Considering the intricacy of interpreting partially covered signals, we thoroughly explored all potential degenerate solutions. Through this process, we identified three planetary scenarios that account for the observed anomaly equally well. These scenarios are characterized by the specific planetary parameters: (s, q)inner = [0.9740 ± 0.0083, (2.46 ± 1.07) × 10−5], (s, q)intermediate = [0.9779 ± 0.0017, (1.56 ± 0.25) × 10−5], and (s, q)outer = [0.9894 ± 0.0107, (2.31 ± 1.29) × 10−5], where s and q denote the projected separation (scaled to the Einstein radius) and mass ratio between the planet and its host, respectively. We identify that the ambiguity between the inner and outer solutions stems from the inner-outer degeneracy, while the similarity between the intermediate solution and the others is due to an accidental degeneracy caused by incomplete anomaly coverage. Results. Through Bayesian analysis utilizing the constraints derived from measured lensing observables and blending flux, our estimation indicates that the lens system comprises a very-low-mass planet orbiting an early M-type star situated approximately (6.2–6.5) kpc from Earth in terms of median posterior values for the different solutions. The median mass of the planet host is in the range of (0.48–0.51) M⊙, and that of the planet’s mass spans a range of (2.6–4.0) ME, varying across different solutions. The detection of KMT-2023-BLG-1866Lb signifies the extension of the lensing surveys to very-low-mass planets that have been difficult to detect in earlier surveys.

How the presence of a giant planet affects the outcome of terrestrial planet formation simulations

The architecture and masses of planetary systems in the habitable zone could be strongly influenced by the presence of outer giant planets. Here, we investigate the impact of outer giants on terrestrial planet formation, under the assumption that the final assembly of the planetary system is set by a giant impact phase. Utilizing a state-of-the-art N-body simulation software, GENGA, we interpret how the late stage of terrestrial planet formation contributes to diversity among planetary systems. We designed two global model setups: 1) we placed a gas giant on the outer side of planetesimals and embryo disk and 2) we only included planetesimals and embryos, but no giant. For the model including the outer giant, we studied the effect of different giant initial masses in the range of 1.0–3.0 Jupiter masses, as well as a range of orbital radii from 2.0–5.8 AU. We also studied the influence of different initial positions of planetesimals and embryos on the results. Our N-body simulation time is approximately 50 Myr. The results show that the existence of an outer giant will promote the interaction between planetesimals and embryos, making the orbits of the formed terrestrial planets more compact. However, placing the giant planet too close to the planetesimals and embryo disk suppresses the formation of massive rocky planets. In addition, under the classical theory, where planetary embryos and planetesimals collide to form terrestrial planets, our results show that the presence of a giant planet actually decreases the gap complexity of the inner planetary system.

Four-of-a-kind? Comprehensive atmospheric characterisation of the HR 8799 planets with VLTI/GRAVITY

With four companions at separations from 16 to 71 au, HR 8799 is a unique target for direct imaging, presenting an opportunity for a comparative study of exoplanets with a shared formation history. Combining new VLTI/GRAVITY observations obtained within the ExoGRAVITY program with archival data, we performed a systematic atmospheric characterisation across all four planets. We explored different levels of model flexibility to understand the temperature structure, chemistry, and clouds of each planet using both petitRADTRANS atmospheric retrievals and fits to self-consistent radiative–convective equilibrium models. Using Bayesian model averaging to combine multiple retrievals (a total of 89 across all four planets), we find that the HR 8799 planets are highly enriched in metals, with [M/H] ≳1, and have stellar to superstellar atmospheric C/O ratios. The C/O ratio increases with increasing separation from 0.55−0.10+0.12 for d to 0.78−0.04+0.03 for b, with the exception of the innermost planet, which has a C/O ratio of 0.87 ± 0.03. Such high metallicities are unexpected for these massive planets, and challenge planet-formation models. By retrieving a quench pressure and using a disequilibrium chemistry model, we derive vertical mixing strengths compatible with predictions for high-metallicity, self-luminous atmospheres. Bayesian evidence comparisons strongly favour the presence of HCN in HR 8799 c and e, as well as CH4 in HR 8799 c, with detections at &gt; 5σ confidence. All of the planets are cloudy, with no evidence of patchiness. The clouds of c, d, and e are best fit by silicate clouds lying above a deep iron cloud layer, while the clouds of the cooler HR 8799 b are more likely composed of Na2S. With well-defined atmospheric properties, future exploration of this system is well positioned to unveil further details of these planets, extending our understanding of the composition, structure, and formation history of these siblings.

Three short-period Earth-sized planets around M dwarfs discovered by TESS: TOI-5720 b, TOI-6008 b, and TOI-6086 b

One of the main goals of the NASA Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS) mission is the discovery of Earth-like planets around nearby M-dwarf stars. We present the discovery and validation of three new short-period Earth-sized planets orbiting nearby M dwarfs: TOI-5720 b, TOI-6008 b, and TOI-6086 b. We combined TESS data, ground-based multicolor light curves, ground-based optical and near-infrared spectroscopy, and Subaru/IRD radial velocity data to validate the planetary candidates and constrain the physical parameters of the systems. In addition, we used archival images, high-resolution imaging, and statistical validation techniques to support the planetary validation. TOI-5720 b is an Earth-sized planet with a radius of Rp = 1.09 ± 0.07 R⊕. It orbits a nearby (36 pc) M 2.5 host with an orbital period of P = 1.4344555 ± 0.0000036 days. It has an equilibrium temperature of Teq = 708 ± 19 K (assuming a null albedo) and an incident flux of Sp = 41.7 ± 4.5 S⊕. TOI-6008 b is a short-period planet of P = 0.8574347 ± 0.0000424 day. It has a radius of Rp = 1.03 ± 0.05 R⊕, an equilibrium temperature of Teq = 707 ± 19 K, and an incident flux of Sp = 41.5 ± 4.5 S⊕. The host star (TOI-6008) is a nearby (23 pc) M 5 with an effective temperature of Teff = 3075 ± 75 K. Based on the radial velocity measurements collected with Subaru/IRD, we set a 3σ upper limit of Mp &lt; 4 M⊕, thus ruling out a star or brown dwarf as the transiting companion. TOI-6086 b orbits its nearby (32 pc) M 3 host star (Teff = 3200 ± 75 K) every 1.3888725 ± 0.0000827 days and has a radius of Rp = 1.18 ± 0.07 R⊕, an equilibrium temperature of Teq = 634 ± 16 K, and an incident flux of Sp = 26.8 ± 2.7 S⊕. Additional high-precision radial velocity measurements are needed to derive the planetary masses and bulk densities and to search for additional planets in the systems. Moreover, short-period Earth-sized planets orbiting around nearby M dwarfs are suitable targets for an atmospheric characterization with the James Webb Space Telescope through transmission and emission spectroscopy and phase-curve photometry.