Title of programme: CHEOPS can confirm an Earth-sized planet in the habitable zone of a metal-poor M-dwarf neighbour
Abstract: The number of confirmed exoplanets has grown exponentially since the field was first established almost 30 years ago. However, our understanding of how these planets form and evolve has been severely impacted by our ability to precisely characterise certain types of exoplanets. The characterisation of Earth-analogues in particular, which are vital in gaining an understanding of our own planet’s history, remains a very small pool. One such candidate first discovered by TESS is TOI-6251 b, a nearby temperate, Earth-sized planet orbiting a metal-poor M-dwarf. However, multiples transits could have fallen in TESS’s data gaps – meaning that we are unable to conclusively state the period of the planet as either 12.7 or 25.5 days. Without this parameter the radius of the planet is unable to be precisely constrained, meaning that even with our secured time to obtain high-precision RV observations, from which the planets mass can be determined, we would be unable to model the composition and interior structure. CHEOPS can confirm this habitable zone M dwarf planet, however, enabling us to further our knowledge on theories of how stellar compositional environment affects planetary internal structure, as well as how planet formation and evolution has led to the observed density and radius valleys. With CHEOPS observations we can precisely pinpoint the orbital period and radius of TOI-6251 b – a planet of which the characterisation could unlock ground-breaking studies.
Temporal Coverage
2023-10-06T18:17:00Z / 2023-10-07T07:10:00Z
Version
3.0
Mission Description
CHEOPS (Benz et al., https://doi.org/10.1007/s10686-020-09679-4) is a European Space Agency (ESA) mission in partnership with Switzerland with important contributions to the payload and the ground segment from Austria, Belgium, France, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Portugal, Spain, Sweden and the United Kingdom.
The satellite has a single payload comprising an ultra-high precision photometer covering the 330 - 1100 nm wavelength range in a single photometric band. Observations are made as part of the Guaranteed Time Observing Programme that is formulated by the CHEOPS Science Team, and the Guest Observers Programme through which the Community at large can apply for CHEOPS time.
