Back to Search Start Over

HD 191939: Three Sub-Neptunes Transiting a Sun-like Star Only 54 pc Away

Authors :
Mariona Badenas-Agusti
Maximilian N. Günther
Tansu Daylan
Thomas Mikal-Evans
Andrew Vanderburg
Chelsea X. Huang
Elisabeth Matthews
Benjamin V. Rackham
Allyson Bieryla
Keivan G. Stassun
Stephen R. Kane
Avi Shporer
Benjamin J. Fulton
Michelle L. Hill
Grzegorz Nowak
Ignasi Ribas
Enric Pallé
Jon M. Jenkins
David W. Latham
Sara Seager
George R. Ricker
Roland K. Vanderspek
Joshua N. Winn
Oriol Abril-Pla
Karen A. Collins
Pere Guerra Serra
Prajwal Niraula
Zafar Rustamkulov
Thomas Barclay
Ian J. M. Crossfield
Steve B. Howell
David R. Ciardi
Erica J. Gonzales
Joshua E. Schlieder
Douglas A. Caldwell
Michael Fausnaugh
Scott McDermott
Martin Paegert
Joshua Pepper
Mark E. Rose
Joseph D. Twicken
Source :
The Astronomical Journal. 160(3)
Publication Year :
2020
Publisher :
United States: NASA Center for Aerospace Information (CASI), 2020.

Abstract

We present the discovery of three sub-Neptune-sized planets transiting the nearby and bright Sun-like star HD 191939 (TIC 269701147, TOI 1339), a Ks = 7.18 mag G8 V dwarf at a distance of only 54 pc. We validate the planetary nature of the transit signals by combining 5 months of data from the Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite with follow-up ground-based photometry, archival optical images, radial velocities, and high angular resolution observations. The three sub-Neptunes have similar radii (R(b)=3.42(+0.11,-0.11), R(c)=3.23(+0.11,-0.11), and R(d)=3.16(+0.11,-0.11 Rꚛ), and their orbits are consistent with a stable, circular, and coplanar architecture near mean-motion resonances of 1:3 and 3:4 (P(b) = 8.88, P(c) = 28.58, and P(d) = 38.35 days). The HD 191939 system is an excellent candidate for precise mass determinations of the planets with high-resolution spectroscopy due to the host star's brightness and low chromospheric activity. Moreover, the system's compact and near-resonant nature can provide an independent way to measure planetary masses via transit timing variations while also enabling dynamical and evolutionary studies. Finally, as a promising target for multiwavelength transmission spectroscopy of all three planets' atmospheres, HD 191939 can offer valuable insight into multiple sub-Neptunes born from a protoplanetary disk that may have resembled that of the early Sun.

Subjects

Subjects :
Astrophysics
Astronomy

Details

Language :
English
ISSN :
15383881 and 00046256
Volume :
160
Issue :
3
Database :
NASA Technical Reports
Journal :
The Astronomical Journal
Notes :
985788, , NAS 5-26555, , NAGW-2166, , PGC2018-098153-B-C33, , AST-1824644, , RSA-1610091
Publication Type :
Report
Accession number :
edsnas.20210012642
Document Type :
Report
Full Text :
https://doi.org/10.3847/1538-3881/aba0b5