TOI-1452 b

Lore & Background

TOI-1452 b was discovered by an international team led by astronomers from the Université de Montréal, using data from NASA’s Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS). The discovery was first reported in June 2022. The exoplanet orbits one of two dim red dwarf stars in a binary system separated by only 96 astronomical units (AU). The host star, TOI-1452, is a flare star; TESS observed a flare where the star brightened by 5%. The secondary star in the system is often distinguished with the name TOI-1760. Both stars were observed by TESS as a priority because they are on the cool dwarf list, a list of high-priority red dwarf stars uploaded to TESS.

Reader's Guide

TOI-1452 b stands out as a super-Earth with a size and mass suggesting a composition that may be dominated by water, earning it the description of a possible water world. Its location in a binary system of red dwarfs, separated by 96 AU, provides a unique environment for studying planet formation around low-mass stars. The system's inclusion in TESS's cool dwarf list highlights the importance of red dwarf stars in exoplanet searches. The detection of a flare from the host star, brightening by 5%, underscores the active nature of such stars and the potential challenges for planetary habitability. As one of the few confirmed super-Earths with a mass and radius consistent with a water-rich interior, TOI-1452 b is a key target for future atmospheric characterization, offering insights into the diversity of exoplanet compositions beyond the Solar System.

Did You Know?

• TOI-1452 b is about 70% larger in diameter than Earth and roughly five times as massive.
• The exoplanet orbits one star in a binary pair of red dwarfs separated by only 96 AU.