Validation and atmospheric exploration of the sub-Neptune TOI-2136b around a nearby M3 dwarf
Journal article, 2022

Context.
The NASA space telescope TESS is currently in the extended mission of its all-sky search for new transiting planets. Of the thousands of candidates that TESS is expected to deliver, transiting planets orbiting nearby M dwarfs are particularly interesting targets since they provide a great opportunity to characterize their atmospheres by transmission spectroscopy.
Aims.
We aim to validate and characterize the new sub-Neptune-sized planet candidate TOI-2136.01 orbiting a nearby M dwarf (d = 33.36 +/- 0.02 pc, T-eff = 3373 +/- 108 K) with an orbital period of 7.852 days.
Methods.
We use TESS data, ground-based multicolor photometry, and radial velocity measurements with the InfraRed Doppler (IRD) instrument on the Subaru Telescope to validate the planetary nature of TOI-2136.01, and estimate the stellar and planetary parameters. We also conduct high-resolution transmission spectroscopy to search for helium in its atmosphere.
Results.
We confirm that TOI-2136.01 (now named TOI-2136b) is a bona fide planet with a planetary radius of R-p = 2.20 +/- 0.07 R-circle plus and a mass of M-p = 4.7(-2.6)(+3.1) M-circle plus. We also search for helium 10830 angstrom absorption lines and place an upper limit on the equivalent width of <7.8 m angstrom and on the absorption signal of <1.44% with 95% confidence.
Conclusions.
TOI-2136b is a sub-Neptune transiting a nearby and bright star (J = 10.8 mag), and is a potentially hycean planet, which is a new class of habitable planets with large oceans under a H-2-rich atmosphere, making it an excellent target for atmospheric studies to understand the formation, evolution, and habitability of the small planets.

planets and satellites: detection

techniques: radial velocities

planets and satellites: atmospheres

techniques: photometric

planets and satellites: individual: TOI-2136b

Author

K. Kawauchi

Instituto de Astrofísica de Canarias

University of La Laguna

F. Murgas

Instituto de Astrofísica de Canarias

University of La Laguna

E. Palle

Instituto de Astrofísica de Canarias

University of La Laguna

N. Narita

University of Tokyo

Astrobiology Center, Japan

Instituto de Astrofísica de Canarias

Japan Science and Technology Agency

A. Fukui

University of Tokyo

Instituto de Astrofísica de Canarias

T. Hirano

National Astronomical Observatory of Japan

Astrobiology Center, Japan

H. Parviainen

Instituto de Astrofísica de Canarias

University of La Laguna

H. T. Ishikawa

Astrobiology Center, Japan

National Astronomical Observatory of Japan

N. Watanabe

University of Tokyo

E. Esparaza-Borges

Instituto de Astrofísica de Canarias

University of La Laguna

M. Kuzuhara

Astrobiology Center, Japan

National Astronomical Observatory of Japan

J. Orell-Miquel

Instituto de Astrofísica de Canarias

University of La Laguna

V Krishnamurthy

Astrobiology Center, Japan

National Astronomical Observatory of Japan

M. Mori

University of Tokyo

T. Kagetani

University of Tokyo

Y. Zou

University of Tokyo

K. Isogai

University of Tokyo

Kyoto University

J. H. Livingston

National Astronomical Observatory of Japan

Astrobiology Center, Japan

University of Tokyo

S. B. Howell

National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)

N. Crouzet

European Space Agency (ESA)

J. P. de Leon

University of Tokyo

T. Kimura

University of Tokyo

T. Kodama

University of Tokyo

Judith Korth

Chalmers, Space, Earth and Environment, Astronomy and Plasmaphysics

S. Kurita

University of Tokyo

A. Laza-Ramos

Instituto de Astrofísica de Canarias

R. Luque

Spanish National Research Council (CSIC)

A. Madrigal-Aguado

Instituto de Astrofísica de Canarias

University of La Laguna

K. Miyakawa

Tokyo Institute of Technology

Giuseppe Morello

University of La Laguna

Instituto de Astrofísica de Canarias

T. Nishiumi

Astrobiology Center, Japan

University of Tokyo

The Graduate University for Advanced Studies (SOKENDAI)

G. E. F. Rodriguez

Instituto de Astrofísica de Canarias

M. Sanchez-Benavente

Instituto de Astrofísica de Canarias

University of La Laguna

M. Stangret

University of La Laguna

Instituto de Astrofísica de Canarias

H. Teng

Tokyo Institute of Technology

Y. Terada

Academia Sinica

National Taiwan University

C. L. Gnilka

National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)

California Institute of Technology (Caltech)

N. Guerrero

Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)

University of Florida

H. Harakawa

National Astronomical Observatory of Japan

K. Hodapp

University of Hawaii

Y. Hori

National Astronomical Observatory of Japan

Astrobiology Center, Japan

M. Ikoma

National Astronomical Observatory of Japan

S. Jacobson

University of Hawaii

M. Konishi

Oita University

T. Kotani

Astrobiology Center, Japan

National Astronomical Observatory of Japan

The Graduate University for Advanced Studies (SOKENDAI)

T. Kudo

National Astronomical Observatory of Japan

T. Kurokowa

Astrobiology Center, Japan

Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology

N. Kusakabe

Astrobiology Center, Japan

National Astronomical Observatory of Japan

J. Nishikawa

National Astronomical Observatory of Japan

Astrobiology Center, Japan

The Graduate University for Advanced Studies (SOKENDAI)

M. Omiya

Astrobiology Center, Japan

National Astronomical Observatory of Japan

T. Serizawa

National Astronomical Observatory of Japan

Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology

M. Tamura

Astrobiology Center, Japan

National Astronomical Observatory of Japan

University of Tokyo

A. Ueda

The Graduate University for Advanced Studies (SOKENDAI)

Astrobiology Center, Japan

National Astronomical Observatory of Japan

S. Vievard

National Astronomical Observatory of Japan

Astrobiology Center, Japan

Astronomy and Astrophysics

0004-6361 (ISSN) 1432-0746 (eISSN)

Vol. 666 A4

Subject Categories (SSIF 2011)

Meteorology and Atmospheric Sciences

Astronomy, Astrophysics and Cosmology

Geophysics

DOI

10.1051/0004-6361/202243381

More information

Latest update

3/18/2025