Discovery of Two Super-Jupiter Mass Exoplanets Transiting Low-Mass Stars

Recent research has identified two new exoplanets, TOI-2379 b and TOI-2384 b, which are classified as super-Jupiter mass planets orbiting low-mass stars. This discovery was made using data from the Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS) and validated through ground-based photometric observations. The study confirms the planetary nature of these objects and provides measurements of their masses and radii.

TOI-2379 b has an orbital period of 5.469 days, with a mass of approximately 5.76 times that of Jupiter and a radius of about 1.046 times that of Jupiter. In contrast, TOI-2384 b has a shorter orbital period of 2.136 days, with a mass of 1.966 Jupiter masses and a radius of 1.025 Jupiter radii. Notably, TOI-2379 b has the highest planet-to-star mass ratio among all known transiting exoplanets with low-mass host stars, while TOI-2384 b ranks third in this category.

The significance of these findings lies in their contribution to the understanding of giant planet formation, particularly in the context of low-mass stars, which have been shown to host fewer short-period gas giants. The unique characteristics of these planets may provide insights into the processes that govern the formation and evolution of planetary systems.

The research is detailed in the paper titled "TOI-2379 b and TOI-2384 b: two super-Jupiter mass planets transiting low-mass host stars," authored by Edward M. Bryant and a team of 33 other researchers. The paper is available on arXiv with the identifier arXiv:2409.01239.