VaTEST III: Validation of 8 Potential Super-Earths from TESS Data

NASA’s all-sky survey mission, the Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS), is specifically engineered to detect exoplanets that transit bright stars. Thus far, TESS has successfully identified approximately 400 transiting exoplanets, in addition to roughly 6000 candidate exoplanets pending validation. In this study, we present the results of our ongoing project, the Validation of Transiting Exoplanets using Statistical Tools (VaTEST). Our dedicated effort is focused on the validation and characterization of new exoplanets through the application of statistical validation tools. Through a combination of ground-based telescope data, high-resolution imaging, and the utilization of the statistical validation tool known as TRICERATOPS, we have successfully validated eight potential super-Earths. These validated planets bear the designations: TOI-238b (1.61+0.09 –0.10 R⊕), TOI-771b (1.42+0.11 –0.09 R⊕), TOI-871b (1.66+0.11 –0.11 R⊕), TOI-1467b (1.83+0.16 –0.15 R⊕), TOI-1739b (1.69+0.10 –0.08 R⊕), TOI-2068b (1.82+0.16 –0.15 R⊕), TOI-4559b (1.42+0.13 –0.11 R⊕), and TOI-5799b (1.62+0.19 –0.13 R⊕). We also studied the synthetic transmission spectra of all eight validated planets in the HST and JWST band-pass using PLATON and PandExo. Among all these validated planets, six of them fall within the region known as ’keystone planets,’ which makes them particularly interesting for study. Based on the location of TOI-771b and TOI-4559b below the radius valley we characterized them as likely super-Earths, though radial velocity mass measurements for these planets will provide more details about their characterization. It is noteworthy that planets within the size range investigated herein are absent from our own solar system, making their study crucial for gaining insights into the evolutionary stages between Earth and Neptune.