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The exoplanet sub-Neptune population currently poses a conundrum. Are small-size planets volatile-rich cores without atmosphere, or are they rocky cores surrounded by H-He envelope? To test the different hypotheses from an observational point of view, a large sample of small-size planets with precise mass and radius measurements is the first necessary step. On top of that, much more information will likely be needed, including atmospheric characterisation and a demographic perspective on their bulk properties. We present the concept and strategy of THIRSTEE, a project which aims at shedding light on the composition of the sub-Neptune population across stellar types by increasing their number and improving the accuracy of bulk density measurements, as well as investigating their atmospheres and performing statistical, demographic analysis. We report the first results of the program, characterising a 2-planet system around the M dwarf TOI-406. We analyse TESS and ground-based photometry, together with ESPRESSO and NIRPS/HARPS RVs to derive the orbital parameters and investigate the internal composition of the 2 planets orbiting TOI-406, which have radii and masses of $R_b = 1.32 \pm 0.12 R_{\oplus}$, $M_b = 2.08_{-0.22}^{+0.23} M_{\oplus}$ and $R_c = 2.08_{-0.15}^{+0.16} R_{\oplus}$, $M_c = 6.57_{-0.90}^{+1.00} M_{\oplus}$, and periods of $3.3$ and $13.2$ days, respectively. Planet b is consistent with an Earth-like composition, while planet c is compatible with multiple internal composition models, including volatile-rich planets without H/He atmospheres. The 2 planets are located in 2 distinct regions in the mass-density diagram, supporting the existence of a density gap among small exoplanets around M dwarfs. With an equilibrium temperature of only 368 K, TOI-406 c stands up as a particularly interesting target for atmospheric characterisation with JWST in the low-temperature regime., Comment: 24 pages, 21 figures. SUBMITTED to A&A

We report the discovery, mass, and radius determination of TOI-1801 b, a temperate mini-Neptune around a young M dwarf. TOI-1801 b was observed in TESS sectors 22 and 49, and the alert that this was a TESS planet candidate with a period of 21.3 days went out in April 2020. However, ground-based follow-up observations, including seeing-limited photometry in and outside transit together with precise radial velocity (RV) measurements with CARMENES and HIRES revealed that the true period of the planet is 10.6 days. These observations also allowed us to retrieve a mass of 5.74 $\pm$ 1.46 $M_\oplus$, which together with a radius of 2.08 $\pm$ 0.12 $R_\oplus$, means that TOI-1801 b is most probably composed of water and rock, with an upper limit of 2\% by mass of H$_{2}$ in its atmosphere. The stellar rotation period of 16 days is readily detectable in our RV time series and in the ground-based photometry. We derived a likely age of 600--800 Myr for the parent star TOI-1801, which means that TOI-1801 b is the least massive young mini-Neptune with precise mass and radius determinations. Our results suggest that if TOI-1801 b had a larger atmosphere in the past, it must have been removed by some evolutionary mechanism on timescales shorter than 1 Gyr., Comment: Accepted in A&A. 29 pages, 21 figures

TOI 1416 (BD+42 2504, HIP 70705) is a V=10 late G or early K-type dwarf star with transits detected by TESS. Radial velocities verify the presence of the transiting planet TOI-1416 b, with a period of 1.07d, a mass of $3.48 M_{Earth}$ and a radius of $1.62 R_{Earth}$, implying a slightly sub-Earth density of $4.50$ g cm$^{-3}$. The RV data also further indicate a tentative planet c with a period of 27.4 or 29.5 days, whose nature cannot be verified due to strong suspicions about contamination by a signal related to the Moon's synodic period of 29.53 days. The near-USP (Ultra Short Period) planet TOI-1416 b is a typical representative of a short-period and hot ($T_{eq} \approx$ 1570 K) super-Earth like planet. A planet model of an interior of molten magma containing a significant fraction of dissolved water provides a plausible explanation for its composition, and its atmosphere could be suitable for transmission spectroscopy with JWST. The position of TOI-1416 b within the radius-period distribution corroborates that USPs with periods of less than one day do not form any special group of planets. Rather, this implies that USPs belong to a continuous distribution of super-Earth like planets with periods ranging from the shortest known ones up to ~ 30 days, whose period-radius distribution is delimitated against larger radii by the Neptune desert and by the period-radius valley that separates super-Earths from sub-Neptune planets. In the abundance of small-short periodic planets against period, a plateau between periods of 0.6 to 1.4 days has however become notable that is compatible with the low-eccentricity formation channel. For the Neptune desert, its lower limits required a revision due to the increasing population of short period planets and new limits are provided. These limits are also given in terms of the planets' insolation and effective temperatures., Comment: 31 pages, 31 figures, 8 tables, accepted for publication in A&A

We report the discovery and confirmation of the planetary system TOI-1288. This late G dwarf harbours two planets: TOI-1288 b and TOI-1288 c. We combine TESS space-borne and ground-based transit photometry with HARPS-N and HIRES high-precision Doppler measurements, which we use to constrain the masses of both planets in the system and the radius of planet b. TOI-1288~b has a period of $2.699835^{+0.000004}_{-0.000003}$ d, a radius of $5.24 \pm 0.09$ R$_\oplus$, and a mass of $42 \pm 3$ M$_\oplus$, making this planet a hot transiting super-Neptune situated right in the Neptunian desert. This desert refers to a paucity of Neptune-sized planets on short period orbits. Our 2.4-year-long Doppler monitoring of TOI-1288 revealed the presence of a Saturn-mass planet on a moderately eccentric orbit ($0.13^{+0.07}_{-0.09}$) with a minimum mass of $84 \pm 7$ M$_\oplus$ and a period of $443^{+11}_{-13}$ d. The 5 sectors worth of TESS data do not cover our expected mid-transit time for TOI-1288 c, and we do not detect a transit for this planet in these sectors., Comment: 16 pages, 17 figures, under review MNRAS

We present the discovery and characterisation of two transiting planets observed by \textit{TESS} in the light curves of the young and bright (V=9.67) star HD73583 (TOI-560). We perform an intensive spectroscopic and photometric space- and ground-based follow-up in order to confirm and characterise the system. We found that HD73583 is a young ($\sim 500$~Myr) active star with a rotational period of $12.08 \pm 0.11 $\,d, and a mass and radius of $ 0.73 \pm 0.02 M_\odot$ and $0.65 \pm 0.02 R_\odot$, respectively. HD73583 b ($P_b=6.3980420 _{ - 0.0000062 }^{+0.0000067}$ d) has a mass and radius of $10.2 _{-3.1}^{+3.4} M_\oplus$ and$2.79 \pm 0.10 R_\oplus$, respectively, that gives a density of $2.58 _{-0.81}^{ 0.95} {\rm g\,cm^{-3}}$. HD73583 c ($P_c= 18.87974 _{-0.00074 }^{+0.00086}$) has a mass and radius of $9.7_{-1.7} ^ {+1.8} M_\oplus$ and $2.39_{-0.09}^{+0.10} R_\oplus$, respectively, this translates to a density of $3.88 _{-0.80}^{+0.91} {\rm g\,cm^{-3}}$. Both planets are consistent with worlds made of a solid core surrounded by a volatile envelope. Because of their youth and host star brightness, they both are excellent candidates to perform transmission spectroscopy studies. We expect ongoing atmospheric mass-loss for both planets caused by stellar irradiation. We estimate that the detection of evaporating signatures on H and He would be challenging, but doable with present and future instruments., Comment: Accepted for publication in MNRAS

We present the discovery and characterization of a transiting sub-Neptune orbiting with a 16.20 day period around a nearby (28 pc) and bright(V=8.37) K0V star HD207897 (TOI-1611). This discovery is based on photometric measurements from the Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite(TESS) mission and radial velocity (RV) observations from the SOPHIE, Automated Planet Finder (APF) and HIRES high precision spectrographs. We used EXOFASTv2 for simultaneously modeling the parameters of the planet and its host star, combining photometric and RV data to determine the planetary system parameters. We show that the planet has a radius of 2.50+/-0.08 RE and a mass of either 14.4+/-1.6 ME or 15.9+/-1.6 ME with nearly equal probability; the two solutions correspond to two possibilities for the stellar activity period. Hence, the density is either 5.1+/-0.7 g cm^-3 or 5.5^{+0.8}_{-0.7} g cm^-3, making it one of the relatively rare dense sub-Neptunes. The existence of such a dense planet at only 0.12 AU from its host star is unusual in the currently observed sub-Neptune (2

LTT 1445 is a hierarchical triple M-dwarf star system located at a distance of 6.86 parsecs. The primary star LTT 1445A (0.257 M_Sun) is known to host the transiting planet LTT 1445Ab with an orbital period of 5.4 days, making it the second closest known transiting exoplanet system, and the closest one for which the host is an M dwarf. Using TESS data, we present the discovery of a second planet in the LTT 1445 system, with an orbital period of 3.1 days. We combine radial velocity measurements obtained from the five spectrographs ESPRESSO, HARPS, HIRES, MAROON-X, and PFS to establish that the new world also orbits LTT 1445A. We determine the mass and radius of LTT 1445Ab to be 2.87+/-0.25 M_Earth and 1.304^{+0.067}_{-0.060} R_Earth, consistent with an Earth-like composition. For the newly discovered LTT 1445Ac, we measure a mass of 1.54^{+0.20}_{-0.19} M_Earth and a minimum radius of 1.15 R_Earth, but we cannot determine the radius directly as the signal-to-noise of our light curve permits both grazing and non-grazing configurations. Using MEarth photometry and ground-based spectroscopy, we establish that star C (0.161 M_Sun) is likely the source of the 1.4-day rotation period, and star B (0.215 M_Sun) has a likely rotation period of 6.7 days. We estimate a probable rotation period of 85 days for LTT 1445A. Thus, this triple M-dwarf system appears to be in a special evolutionary stage where the most massive M dwarf has spun down, the intermediate mass M dwarf is in the process of spinning down, while the least massive stellar component has not yet begun to spin down., Comment: Accepted to the Astronomical Journal. 4 tables, 10 figures; RV table available upon request

Multi-model ensembles provide a pragmatic approach to the representation of model uncertainty in climate prediction. However, such representations are inherently ad hoc, and, as shown, probability distributions of climate variables based on current-generation multi-model ensembles, are not accurate. Results from seasonal re-forecast studies suggest that climate model ensembles based on stochastic-dynamic parametrisation are beginning to outperform multi-model ensembles, and have the potential to become significantly more skilful than multi-model ensembles. The case is made for stochastic representations of model uncertainty in future-generation climate prediction models. Firstly, a guiding characteristic of the scientific method is an ability to characterise and predict uncertainty; individual climate models are not currently able to do this. Secondly, through the effects of noise-induced rectification, stochastic-dynamic parametrisation may provide a (poor man's) surrogate to high resolution. Thirdly, stochastic-dynamic parametrisations may be able to take advantage of the inherent stochasticity of electron flow through certain types of low-energy computer chips, currently under development. These arguments have particular resonance for next-generation Earth-System models, which purport to be comprehensive numerical representations of climate, and where integrations at high resolution may be unaffordable., Comment: 19 pages, 4 figures

NASA is currently conducting a comprehensive reevaluation of such fundamental launch vehicle-related issues as the appropriate balance between manned and unmanned launchers, reusable vs expendable vehicles and vehicle components, and the evolutionary vs innovative new-system development courses. Two trends have emerged, both emphasizing system expense: (1) low cost/manned flight vehicles for personnel transfer, small payloads, servicing, rescue, and Space Station logistics, and (2) low cost/unit mass vehicles for large and multiple payloads, propellants, bulk cargoes, and heavy upper stages. Attention is given to the contributions made by CFD to liquid-fueled engine component design.