An unusually low density ultra-short period super-Earth and three mini-Neptunes around the old star TOI-561

G. Lacedelli, L. Malavolta, L. Borsato, G. Piotto, D. Nardiello, A. Mortier, M. Stalport, A. Collier Cameron, E. Poretti, L. A. Buchhave, M. López-Morales, V. Nascimbeni, T. G. Wilson, S. Udry, D. W. Latham, A. S. Bonomo, M. Damasso, X. Dumusque, J. M. Jenkins, C. LovisK. Rice, D. Sasselov, J. N. Winn, G. Andreuzzi, R. Cosentino, D. Charbonneau, L. Di Fabrizio, A. F. Martnez Fiorenzano, A. Ghedina, A. Harutyunyan, F. Lienhard, G. Micela, E. Molinari, I. Pagano, F. Pepe, D. F. Phillips, M. Pinamonti, G. Ricker, G. Scandariato, A. Sozzetti, C. A. Watson

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

21 Scopus citations

Abstract

Based on HARPS-N radial velocities (RVs) and TESS photometry, we present a full characterization of the planetary system orbiting the late G dwarf TOI-561. After the identification of three transiting candidates by TESS, we discovered two additional external planets from RV analysis. RVs cannot confirm the outer TESS transiting candidate, which would also make the system dynamically unstable. We demonstrate that the two transits initially associated with this candidate are instead due to single transits of the two planets discovered using RVs. The four planets orbiting TOI-561 include an ultra-short period (USP) super-Earth (TOI-561 b) with period Pb = 0.45 d, mass Mb = 1.59 ± 0.36 M and radius Rb = 1.42 ± 0.07 R, and three mini-Neptunes: TOI-561 c, with Pc = 10.78 d, Mc = 5.40 ± 0.98 M, Rc = 2.88 ± 0.09 R; TOI-561 d, with Pd = 25.6 d, Md = 11.9 ± 1.3 M, Rd = 2.53 ± 0.13 R; and TOI-561 e, with Pe = 77.2 d, Me = 16.0 ± 2.3 M, Re = 2.67 ± 0.11 R. Having a density of 3.0 ± 0.8 g cm-3, TOI-561 b is the lowest density USP planet known to date. Our N-body simulations confirm the stability of the system and predict a strong, anti-correlated, long-term transit time variation signal between planets d and e. The unusual density of the inner super-Earth and the dynamical interactions between the outer planets make TOI-561 an interesting follow-up target.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)4148-4166
Number of pages19
JournalMonthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Volume501
Issue number3
DOIs
StatePublished - Mar 1 2021

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • Astronomy and Astrophysics
  • Space and Planetary Science

Keywords

  • planets and satellites: composition
  • planets and satellites: detection
  • stars: individual: TOI-561 (TIC 377064495, Gaia DR2 3850421005290172416)
  • techniques: photometric
  • techniques: radial velocities

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