TOI-3862 b: A dense super-Neptune deep in the hot Neptune desert

Context . The structure and evolution of close-in exoplanets are shaped by atmospheric loss and migration processes, which give rise to key population features such as the hot Neptune desert, ridge, and savanna – regions of the period-radius space whose boundaries offer critical insights into planetary formation and survival. Aims . As part of the KESPRINT collaboration, we selected the TESS transiting planet candidate TOI-3862.01 for radial velocity follow-up to confirm its planetary nature and characterize its mass and bulk properties. This planet candidate is of particular interest due to its position in the middle of the hot Neptune desert, making it a valuable probe for testing theories of planet migration and atmospheric loss. Methods . We confirmed the planetary nature and determined the mass of TOI-3862.01 (hereinafter TOI-3862 b) by performing a joint fit with both transit and radial velocity data, precisely characterizing the bulk properties of this planet. Results . TOI-3862b is a super-Neptune on a 1.56-day orbit around a Sun-like star with an effective temperature of 5300±50 K. It has a mass of 53.7 −2.9 +2.8 M ⊕ and a radius of 5.53 ± 0.18 R ⊕ , corresponding to a density of 1.7±0.2 g/cm 3 . This places it among the rare population of hot and dense super-Neptune desert planets. Conclusions . TOI-3862b, residing deep in the hot Neptune desert, represents a rare occurrence in an otherwise sparsely populated region, offering a valuable opportunity to probe the processes that may allow planets to survive in such environments.

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Publication Details

Journal
Astronomy and Astrophysics
Published
2026-01-15
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1051/0004-6361/202557186
Primary Topic
Stellar, planetary, and galactic studies
Type
article
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article

TOI-3862 b: A dense super-Neptune deep in the hot Neptune desert

Pau Bosch-Cabot, E. Knudstrup, G. Lacedelli, A. Castro-González et al.
Astronomy and Astrophysics
Stellar, planetary, and galactic studies
article

TOI-3862 b: A dense super-Neptune deep in the hot Neptune desert

Pau Bosch-Cabot, E. Knudstrup, G. Lacedelli, A. Castro-González, S. Messina, Eduardo Lorenzo Martín Guerrero de Escalante, Monika Rogowska Stangret, V. Bourrier, Núria Casasayas Barris, B. S. Safonov, Bob Massey, Furlan Elise, Pere Guerra, Felipe Mergas, S. González, Stavros Chairetas, Hannu Parvianien, Norio Narita, Kai Ikuta, Ilaria Carleo, G. Keivan Stassun, Avi Shporer, B. Michael Lund, Jaume Orell-Miquel, Enric Pallé, Patrick Eggenberger, M. Carina Persson, W. Emily Wong, Davide Gandolfi, Giuseppe Morello, B. Steve Howell, R. Douglas Alves, A. Catherine Clark, Coel Hellier, Judith Korth, Rafael Delfin Barrena Delgado, P. Richard Schwarz, J. Hans Deeg, R. David Ciardi, Seth Redfield, Akihiko Fukui, P. Artie Hatzes, S. James Jenkins, Jorge Lillo-Box, Noriharu Watanabe, I. Jose Vines, A. Karen Collins, P. Jerome de Leon, David Baker, Kiyoe Kawauchi, Dawid Jankowski, William Cochran, Thomas Masseron, Florence Libotte, H. John Livingston, Izuru Fukuda, N. Cristilyn Watkins, Andrew Boyle, Grzegorz Nowak, Allyson Bieryla, J. Edward Michaels
article en

Abstract

Context . The structure and evolution of close-in exoplanets are shaped by atmospheric loss and migration processes, which give rise to key population features such as the hot Neptune desert, ridge, and savanna – regions of the period-radius space whose boundaries offer critical insights into planetary formation and survival. Aims . As part of the KESPRINT collaboration, we selected the TESS transiting planet candidate TOI-3862.01 for radial velocity follow-up to confirm its planetary nature and characterize its mass and bulk properties. This planet candidate is of particular interest due to its position in the middle of the hot Neptune desert, making it a valuable probe for testing theories of planet migration and atmospheric loss. Methods . We confirmed the planetary nature and determined the mass of TOI-3862.01 (hereinafter TOI-3862 b) by performing a joint fit with both transit and radial velocity data, precisely characterizing the bulk properties of this planet. Results . TOI-3862b is a super-Neptune on a 1.56-day orbit around a Sun-like star with an effective temperature of 5300±50 K. It has a mass of 53.7 −2.9 +2.8 M ⊕ and a radius of 5.53 ± 0.18 R ⊕ , corresponding to a density of 1.7±0.2 g/cm 3 . This places it among the rare population of hot and dense super-Neptune desert planets. Conclusions . TOI-3862b, residing deep in the hot Neptune desert, represents a rare occurrence in an otherwise sparsely populated region, offering a valuable opportunity to probe the processes that may allow planets to survive in such environments.

Astronomy and AstrophysicsVol. 707
Wesleyan University (US), Hitotsubashi University (JP), University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (US), Austin College (US), Ames Research Center (US), Royal Astronomical Society (GB), Ritsumeikan University (JP), Universidad de La Laguna (ES), Tokyo University of the Arts (JP), Royal Belgian Institute for Space Aeronomy (BE), Lomonosov Moscow State University (RU), The Graduate University for Advanced Studies, SOKENDAI (JP), Vanderbilt University (US), Aarhus University (DK), Montana State University (US), NASA Exoplanet Science Institute (US), Kavli Institute for Particle Astrophysics and Cosmology (US), Stuttgart Observatory (DE), Osservatorio Astrofisico di Torino (IT), Astrobiology Center (JP), Albany Research Institute (US), Institute of Astronomy (RU), Osservatorio Astrofisico di Catania (IT), Center for Astrophysics Harvard & Smithsonian (US), Osservatorio Astronomico di Palermo (IT), Centro de Astrobiología (ES), Instituto de Astrofísica de Canarias (ES), Astronomical Institute of the Slovak Academy of Sciences (SK), Nicolaus Copernicus Astronomical Center (PL), Thüringer Landessternwarte Tautenburg (DE), Astronomical Observatory (RS), Instituto de Astrofísica de Andalucía (ES), National Astronomical Observatory of Japan (JP), University of Turin (IT), Keele University (GB), Massachusetts Institute of Technology (US), Chalmers University of Technology (SE), University of Chile (CL), The University of Tokyo (JP), The University of Texas at Austin (US), Universidad Diego Portales (CL), Netherlands Institute for Radio Astronomy (NL)
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Stellar, planetary, and galactic studies
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