TOI-4600 b and c: Two long-period giant planets orbiting an early K dwarf

TL;DR

This paper reports the discovery and validation of two long-period giant exoplanets orbiting an early K dwarf, using TESS data combined with ground-based observations, highlighting their potential for atmospheric study and insights into planetary system formation.

Contribution

First validation of two long-period giant exoplanets around an early K dwarf using combined TESS and ground-based data, including the longest-period planet confirmed by TESS.

Findings

TOI-4600 c is the longest-period confirmed planet by TESS.

Both planets are suitable for atmospheric characterization with JWST.

The planets bridge the gap between hot/warm Jupiters and solar system giants.

Abstract

We report the discovery and validation of two long-period giant exoplanets orbiting the early K dwarf TOI-4600 (V=12.6, T=11.9), first detected using observations from the Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS) by the TESS Single Transit Planet Candidate Working Group (TSTPC-WG). The inner planet, TOI-4600 b, has a radius of 6.80$\pm$0.31 R$_{\oplus}$ and an orbital period of 82.69 d. The outer planet, TOI-4600 c, has a radius of 9.42$\pm$0.42 R$_{\oplus}$ and an orbital period of 482.82 d, making it the longest-period confirmed or validated planet discovered by TESS to date. We combine TESS photometry and ground-based spectroscopy, photometry, and high-resolution imaging to validate the two planets. With equilibrium temperatures of 347 K and 191 K, respectively, TOI-4600 b and c add to the small but growing population of temperate giant exoplanets that bridge the gap between hot/warm Jupiters and the solar system's gas giants. TOI-4600 is a promising target for further transit and precise RV observations to measure masses and orbits for the planets as well as search for additional non-transiting planets. Additionally, with Transit Spectroscopy Metric (TSM) values of $\sim$30, both planets are amenable for atmospheric characterization with JWST. Altogether will lend insight into the formation and evolution of planet systems with multiple giant exoplanets.