TOI-2257 b: A highly eccentric long-period sub-Neptune transiting a nearby M dwarf

N. Schanche, F. J. Pozuelos, M. N. Günther, R. D. Wells, A. J. Burgasser, P. Chinchilla, L. Delrez, E. Ducrot, L. J. Garcia, Y. Gómez Maqueo Chew, E. Jofré, B. V. Rackham, D. Sebastian, K. G. Stassun, D. Stern, M. Timmermans, K. Barkaoui, A. Belinski, Z. Benkhaldoun, W. BenzA. Bieryla, F. Bouchy, A. Burdanov, D. Charbonneau, J. L. Christiansen, K. A. Collins, B. O. Demory, M. Dévora-Pajares, J. De Wit, D. Dragomir, G. Dransfield, E. Furlan, M. Ghachoui, M. Gillon, C. Gnilka, M. A. Gómez-Muñoz, N. Guerrero, M. Harris, K. Heng, C. E. Henze, K. Hesse, S. B. Howell, E. Jehin, J. Jenkins, E. L.N. Jensen, M. Kunimoto, D. W. Latham, K. Lester, K. K. McLeod, I. Mireles, C. A. Murray, P. Niraula, P. P. Pedersen, D. Queloz, E. V. Quintana, G. Ricker, A. Rudat, L. Sabin, B. Safonov, U. Schroffenegger, N. Scott, S. Seager, I. Strakhov, A. H.M.J. Triaud, R. Vanderspek, M. Vezie, J. Winn

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

19 Scopus citations

Abstract

Context. Thanks to the relative ease of finding and characterizing small planets around M-dwarf stars, these objects have become cornerstones in the field of exoplanet studies. The current paucity of planets in long-period orbits around M dwarfs makes such objects particularly compelling as they provide clues about the formation and evolution of these systems. Aims. In this study we present the discovery of TOI-2257 b (TIC 198485881), a long-period (35 d) sub-Neptune orbiting an M3 star at 57.8 pc. Its transit depth is about 0.4%, large enough to be detected with medium-size, ground-based telescopes. The long transit duration suggests the planet is in a highly eccentric orbit (e ~ 0.5), which would make it the most eccentric planet known to be transiting an M-dwarf star. Methods. We combined TESS and ground-based data obtained with the 1.0-meter SAINT-EX, 0.60-meter TRAPPIST-North, and 1.2-meter FLWO telescopes to find a planetary size of 2.2 R⊗ and an orbital period of 35.19 days. In addition, we make use of archival data, high-resolution imaging, and vetting packages to support our planetary interpretation. Results. With its long period and high eccentricity, TOI-2257 b falls into a novel slice of parameter space. Despite the planet's low equilibrium temperature (~256 K), its host star's small size (R∗ = 0.311 ± 0.015) and relative infrared brightness (Kmag = 10.7) make it a suitable candidate for atmospheric exploration via transmission spectroscopy.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Article numberA45
JournalAstronomy and Astrophysics
Volume657
DOIs
StatePublished - Jan 1 2022

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • Astronomy and Astrophysics
  • Space and Planetary Science

Keywords

  • Planets and satellites: detection
  • Stars: individual: TIC 198485881
  • Stars: individual: TOI-2257
  • Techniques: photometric

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