K2-265 b: a transiting rocky super-Earth

November 2018 • 2018A&A...620A..77L

Authors • Lam, K. W. F. • Santerne, A. • Sousa, S. G. • Vigan, A. • Armstrong, D. J. • Barros, S. C. C. • Brugger, B. • Adibekyan, V. • Almenara, J. -M. • Delgado Mena, E. • Dumusque, X. • Barrado, D. • Bayliss, D. • Bonomo, A. S. • Bouchy, F. • Brown, D. J. A. • Ciardi, D. • Deleuil, M. • Demangeon, O. • Faedi, F. • Foxell, E. • Jackman, J. A. G. • King, G. W. • Kirk, J. • Ligi, R. • Lillo-Box, J. • Lopez, T. • Lovis, C. • Louden, T. • Nielsen, L. D. • McCormac, J. • Mousis, O. • Osborn, H. P. • Pollacco, D. • Santos, N. C. • Udry, S. • Wheatley, P. J.

Abstract • We report the discovery of the super-Earth K2-265 b detected with K2 photometry. The planet orbits a bright (V_mag = 11.1) star of spectral type G8V with a period of 2.37 days. We obtained high-precision follow-up radial velocity measurements from HARPS, and the joint Bayesian analysis showed that K2-265 b has a radius of 1.71 ± 0.11 R_⊕ and a mass of 6.54 ± 0.84 M_⊕, corresponding to a bulk density of 7.1 ± 1.8 g cm^-3. Composition analysis of the planet reveals an Earth-like, rocky interior; this object has a rock mass fraction of 80%. The short orbital period and small radius of the planet puts it below the lower limit of the photoevaporation gap, where the envelope of the planet could have eroded owing to strong stellar irradiation, leaving behind an exposed core. Knowledge of the planet core composition allows us to infer the possible formation and evolution mechanism responsible for its current physical parameters.

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David Ciardi

Senior Scientist