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TOI-2322: Two transiting rocky planets close to the stellar rotation period and its first harmonic

M. J. Hobson, A. Suárez Mascareño, C. Lovis, F. Bouchy, B. Lavie, M. Cretignier, A. M. Silva, S. G. Sousa, H. M. Tabernero, V. Zh. Adibekyan, C. Allende Prieto, Y. Alibert, S. C. C. Barros, A. Castro-González, K. A. Collins, S. Cristiani, V. D'Odorico, M. Damasso, D. Dragomir, X. Dumusque, D. Ehrenreich, P. Figueira, R. Génova Santos, B. Goeke, J. I. González Hernández, K. Hesse, J. Lillo-Box, G. Lo Curto, C. J. A. P. Martins, A. Mehner, G. Micela, P. Molaro, N. J. Nunes, E. Palle, V. M. Passegger, F. Pepe, R. Rebolo, J. Rodrigues, N. C. Santos, A. Sozzetti, B. M. Tofflemire, S. Udry, C. Watkins, M. R. Zapatero Osorio, C. Ziegler

Abstract
Context. Active regions on the stellar surface can induce quasi-periodic radial velocity (RV) variations that can mimic planets and mask true planetary signals. These spurious signals can be problematic for RV surveys such as those carried out by the ESPRESSO consortium. Aims. Using ESPRESSO and HARPS RVs and activity indicators, we aim to confirm and characterise two candidate transiting planets from TESS orbiting a K4 star with strong activity signals. Methods. From the ESPRESSO FWHM, TESS photometry, and ASAS-SN photometry, we measure a stellar rotation period of 21.28 ± 0.08 d. We jointly model the TESS photometry, ESPRESSO and HARPS RVs, and activity indicators, applying a multivariate Gaussian process (GP) framework to the spectroscopic data. Results. We are able to disentangle the planetary and activity components, finding that TOI-2322 b has a 11.307170−0.000079+0.000085 d period, close to the first harmonic of the rotation period, a ≤2.03 M mass upper limit and a 0.994−0.059+0.057 R radius. TOI-2322 c orbits close to the stellar rotation period, with a 20.225528−0.000044+0.000039 d period; it has a 18.10−5.36+4.34 M mass and a 1.874−0.057+0.066 R radius. Conclusions. The multivariate GP framework is crucial to separating the stellar and planetary signals, significantly outperforming a one-dimensional GP. Likewise, the transit data is fundamental to constraining the periods and epochs, enabling the retrieval of the planetary signals in the RVs. The internal structure of TOI-2322 c is very similar to that of Earth, making it one of the most massive planets with an Earth-like composition known.

Keywords
techniques: photometric / techniques: radial velocities / planets and satellites: composition / planets and satellites: detection / stars: individual: TOI-2322 / stars: rotation

Astronomy & Astrophysics
Volume 702, Article Number A32, Number of pages 20
2025 October

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Faculdade de Ciências da Universidade de Lisboa Universidade do Porto Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia da Universidade de Coimbra
Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia COMPETE 2020 PORTUGAL 2020 União Europeia