TOI-2447 b / NGTS-29 b: a 69-day Saturn around a Solar analogue

• Published in: Monthly notices of the Royal Astronomical Society 2024-08, Vol.532 (2), p.1444-1458
• Main Authors: Gill, Samuel, Bayliss, Daniel, Ulmer-Moll, Solène, Wheatley, Peter J, Brahm, Rafael, Anderson, David R, Armstrong, David, Apergis, Ioannis, Alves, Douglas R, Burleigh, Matthew R, Butler, R P, Bouchy, François, Battley, Matthew P, Bryant, Edward M, Bieryla, Allyson, Crane, Jeffrey D, Collins, Karen A, Casewell, Sarah L, Carleo, Ilaria, Claringbold, Alastair B, Dalba, Paul A, Dragomir, Diana, Eigmüller, Philipp, Eberhardt, Jan, Fausnaugh, Michael, Günther, Maximilian N, Grieves, Nolan, Goad, Michael R, Gillen, Edward, Hagelberg, Janis, Hobson, Melissa, Hedges, Christina, Henderson, Beth A, Hawthorn, Faith, Henning, Thomas, Jones, Matías I, Jordán, Andrés, Jenkins, James S, Kunimoto, Michelle, Krenn, Andreas F, Kendall, Alicia, Lendl, Monika, McCormac, James, Moyano, Maximiliano, Torres-Miranda, Pascal, Nielsen, Louise D, Osborn, Ares, Otegi, Jon, Osborn, Hugh, Quinn, Samuel N, Rodriguez, Joseph E, Ramsay, Gavin, Schlecker, Martin, Shectman, Stephen A, Seager, Sara, Tilbrook, Rosanna H, Trifonov, Trifon, Teske, Johanna K, Udry, Stephane, Vines, Jose I, West, Richard R, Wohler, Bill, Winn, Joshua N, Wang, Sharon X, Zhou, George, Zivave, Tafadzwa
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Extrasolar planets; Gas giant planets; Photometry; Planet detection; Planetary atmospheres; Planetary composition; Planetary orbits; Radial velocity; Transit; Velocity
• ISSN: 0035-8711; 1365-2966
• DOI: 10.1093/mnras/stae1256

ABSTRACT Discovering transiting exoplanets with relatively long orbital periods (>10 d) is crucial to facilitate the study of cool exoplanet atmospheres (Teq < 700 K) and to understand exoplanet formation and inward migration further out than typical transiting exoplanets. In order to discover these longer period transiting exoplanets, long-term photometric, and radial velocity campaigns are required. We report the discovery of TOI-2447 b (=NGTS-29 b), a Saturn-mass transiting exoplanet orbiting a bright (T = 10.0) Solar-type star (Teff = 5730 K). TOI-2447 b was identified as a transiting exoplanet candidate from a single transit event of 1.3 per cent depth and 7.29 h duration in TESS Sector 31 and a prior transit event from 2017 in NGTS data. Four further transit events were observed with NGTS photometry which revealed an orbital period of P = 69.34 d. The transit events establish a radius for TOI-2447 b of $0.865 \pm 0.010\, \rm R_{\rm J}$, while radial velocity measurements give a mass of $0.386 \pm 0.025\, \rm M_{\rm J}$. The equilibrium temperature of the planet is 414 K, making it much cooler than the majority of TESS planet discoveries. We also detect a transit signal in NGTS data not caused by TOI-2447 b, along with transit timing variations and evidence for a ∼150 d signal in radial velocity measurements. It is likely that the system hosts additional planets, but further photometry and radial velocity campaigns will be needed to determine their parameters with confidence. TOI-2447 b/NGTS-29 b joins a small but growing population of cool giants that will provide crucial insights into giant planet composition and formation mechanisms.