TOI-1201 b: A mini-Neptune transiting a bright and moderately young M dwarf

We present the discovery of a transiting mini-Neptune around TOI-1201, a relatively bright and moderately young early M dwarf (J approximate to 9.5 mag, similar to 600-800 Myr) in an equal-mass similar to 8 arcsecond-wide binary system, using data from the Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite, along with follow-up transit observations. With an orbital period of 2.49 d, TOI-1201 b is a warm mini-Neptune with a radius of R-b = 2.415 +/- 0.090 R-circle plus. This signal is also present in the precise radial velocity measurements from CARMENES, confirming the existence of the planet and providing a planetary mass of M-b = 6.28 +/- 0.88 M-circle plus and, thus, an estimated bulk density of 2.45(-0.42)(+0.48) g cm(-3). The spectroscopic observations additionally show evidence of a signal with a period of 19 d and a long periodic variation of undetermined origin. In combination with ground-based photometric monitoring from WASP-South and ASAS-SN, we attribute the 19 d signal to the stellar rotation period (P-rot = 19-23 d), although we cannot rule out that the variation seen in photometry belongs to the visually close binary companion. We calculate precise stellar parameters for both TOI-1201 and its companion. The transiting planet is anexcellent target for atmosphere characterization (the transmission spectroscopy metric is 97(-16)(+21)) with the upcoming James Webb Space Telescope. It is also feasible to measure its spin-orbit alignment via the Rossiter-McLaughlin effect using current state-of-the-art spectrographs with submeter per second radial velocity precision.

Automated summary

This study presents the discovery of a transiting mini-Neptune around TOI-1201, with the planet's existence confirmed through radial velocity measurements. The transiting planet is identified as an excellent target for atmosphere characterization.