Astronomy:LTT 3780

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Short description: Star system in the constellation Hydra
LTT 3780
Observation data
Equinox J2000.0]] (ICRS)
Constellation Hydra
Right ascension  10h 18m 35.137s[1]
Declination −11° 43′ 00.24″[1]
Apparent magnitude (V) 13.07±0.015[2]
Characteristics
Spectral type M3.5 V + M5.0 V[3]
Apparent magnitude (B) 14.678
Apparent magnitude (G) 11.8465±0.0005[2]
Apparent magnitude (J) 9.007±0.030[2]
Astrometry
Radial velocity (Rv)0.27±0.34[1] km/s
Proper motion (μ) RA: −341.537[1] mas/yr
Dec.: −247.747[1] mas/yr
Parallax (π)45.3972 ± 0.0301[1] mas
Distance71.85 ± 0.05 ly
(22.03 ± 0.01 pc)
Absolute magnitude (MV)11.36±0.02[2]
Position (relative to LTT 3780)[3]
ComponentLP 729-55
Epoch of observationJ2015.5
Angular distance15.81±0.150
Position angle96.9±0.2°
Observed separation
(projected)
348±3 AU {{{projsepref}}}
Details
LTT 3780
Mass0.401±0.012[2] M
Radius0.374±0.011[2] R
Luminosity0.0165±0.0021[4] L
Surface gravity (log g)4.896±0.029[2] cgs
Temperature3,358±92[4] K
Metallicity [Fe/H]0.06±0.11[4] dex
Rotation104±15[2]
Rotational velocity (v sin i)< 1.3[2] km/s
Age3.10+6.20
−0.98
[4] Gyr
LP 729-55
Mass0.136±0.004[2] M
Radius0.173±0.005[2] R
Other designations
G 162-44, LP 729-54, LTT 3780, NLTT 23974, 2MASS J10183516-1142599[5]
Database references
SIMBADdata
Exoplanet Archivedata

LTT 3780, also known as TOI-732 or LP 729-54, is the brighter component of a wide visual binary star system in the constellation Hydra. This star is host to a pair of orbiting exoplanets. Based on parallax measurements, it is located at a distance of 72 light years from the Sun. LTT 3780 has an apparent visual magnitude of 13.07,[2] requiring a telescope to view.

The spectrum of LTT 3780 presents as a small M-type main-sequence star, a red dwarf, with a stellar classification of M3.5 V. It is spinning very slowly, with a rotation period of 104 days.[2] The abundance of iron, an indicator of the star's metallicity, appears higher than in the Sun.[3] The star is inactive, showing a negligible level of magnetic activity in its chromosphere.[2] It has about 40% of the mass and 37% of the radius of the Sun. The star is radiating just 17% of the Sun's luminosity from its photosphere at an effective temperature of 3,331.[2]

Collectively designated LDS 3977, the two stars in this system share a common proper motion and have an angular separation of 15.8, which corresponds to a (physical) projected separation of 348 astronomical unit|AU.[3] At this separation, the orbital period would be ~9,100 years.[2] The fainter member is a red dwarf with a class of M5.0 V.[3] It has 14% of the mass of the Sun and 17% of the Sun's radius.[2]

Planetary system

In 2020, an analysis carried out by a team of astronomers led by astronomer Ryan Cloutier of the TESS project confirmed the existence of two planets on mildly eccentric orbits, the inner being a super-Earth and the outer a small gas planet about half the mass of Uranus.

LTT 3780 b

The inner planet, LTT 3780 b, is an ultra-short period rocky super-Earth. James Webb Space Telescope observations published in 2025 are consistent with the planet being a bare rock with no atmosphere; CO2 atmospheres with a surface pressure of at least 0.01 bar can be ruled out.[6]

LTT 3780 c

Astronomers utilizing the Gemini South 8.1-meter telescope performed an atmospheric survey of LTT 3780 c through high-resolution transmission spectroscopy. From observations during a single transit, they detected tentative signs of methane in the atmosphere but found no traces of ammonia, even though it is highly detectable in a cloud-free, hydrogen-rich atmosphere.[7]

Size comparison of the two known planets of LTT 3780 (artistic concept) with Earth
The LTT 3780 planetary system[4]
Companion
(in order from star)
Mass Semimajor axis
(AU)
Orbital period
(days)
Eccentricity Inclination Radius
b 2.46±0.19 M 0.01195+0.00028
−0.00029
0.7683793(4) 0 86.10+0.92
−0.68
°
1.325+0.057
−0.058
 R
c 8.04+0.50
−0.48
 M
0.0757±0.0018 12.252284(13) 0.024+0.032
−0.017
88.958+0.074
−0.068
°
2.39+0.10
−0.11
 R

See also

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 Vallenari, A. et al. (2022). "Gaia Data Release 3. Summary of the content and survey properties". Astronomy & Astrophysics. doi:10.1051/0004-6361/202243940  Gaia DR3 record for this source at VizieR.
  2. 2.00 2.01 2.02 2.03 2.04 2.05 2.06 2.07 2.08 2.09 2.10 2.11 2.12 2.13 2.14 2.15 2.16 Cloutier, Ryan et al. (2020). "A pair of TESS planets spanning the radius valley around the nearby mid-M dwarf LTT 3780". The Astronomical Journal 160 (1): 3. doi:10.3847/1538-3881/ab91c2. Bibcode2020AJ....160....3C. 
  3. 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 Nowak, G. et al. (2020). "The CARMENES search for exoplanets around M dwarfs. Two planets on the opposite sides of the radius gap transiting the nearby M dwarf LP 729-54". Astronomy & Astrophysics A173: 642. doi:10.1051/0004-6361/202037867. Bibcode2020A&A...642A.173N. 
  4. 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 Bonfanti, A. et al. (2024). "Characterising TOI-732 b and c: New insights into the M-dwarf radius and density valley". Astronomy & Astrophysics 682. doi:10.1051/0004-6361/202348180. Bibcode2024A&A...682A..66B. 
  5. "LTT 3780". SIMBAD. Centre de données astronomiques de Strasbourg. http://simbad.u-strasbg.fr/simbad/sim-basic?Ident=LTT+3780. 
  6. Allen, Natalie H. et al. (August 2025). "Hot Rocks Survey IV: Emission from LTT 3780 b is consistent with a bare rock". The Astronomical Journal. 
  7. Cabot, Samuel H. C. et al. (2024-05-01). "High-resolution Spectroscopic Reconnaissance of a Temperate Sub-Neptune". The Astrophysical Journal Letters 966 (1). doi:10.3847/2041-8213/ad3828. Bibcode2024ApJ...966L..10C. 

Coordinates: Sky map 10h 18m 35.137s, −11° 43′ 0.242″