Ground-based light curve follow-up validation observations of TESS object of interest TOI 5872.01

We present follow-up ground-based observations and TESS data vetting procedures of TESS object of interest TOI 5872.01, a candidate hot jupiter exoplanet with an orbital period of approximately 2.24 days orbiting around main-sequence star TOI 5872. Using data collected with the George Mason University 0.8m Campus Telescope and processed with AstroImageJ, light curves were extracted to confirm the existence of the periodic transiting signal. Vetting tests on TESS Sector 16 data confirmed the consistent periodic nature of the transit and are consistent with ruling out eclipsing binary systems and significant neighboring star contamination. However, nearby eclipsing binary (NEB) checks were inconclusive, as low flux of neighboring stars prevents a statistically robust conclusion. Additional follow-up and multi-band photometric observations are required to confirm the planetary nature of TOI 5872.01.