The Habitable Zone Planet Finder Reveals a High Mass and Low Obliquity for the Young Neptune K2-25b

Abstract

Using radial velocity data from the Habitable Zone Planet Finder, we have measured the mass of the Neptune-sized planet K2-25b, as well as the obliquity of its M4.5 dwarf host star in the 600-800 Myr Hyades cluster. This is one of the youngest planetary systems for which both of these quantities have been measured and one of the very few M dwarfs with a measured obliquity. Based on a joint analysis of the radial velocity data, time-series photometry from the K2 mission, and new transit light curves obtained with diffuser-assisted photometry, the planet's radius and mass are 3.44 +/- 0.12 R-circle plus and 24.5(-5.2)(+5.7) M-circle plus. These properties are compatible with a rocky core enshrouded by a thin hydrogen-helium atmosphere (5% by mass). We measure an orbital eccentricity of e = 0.43 +/- 0.05. The sky-projected stellar obliquity is lambda = 3 degrees +/- 16 degrees, compatible with spin-orbit alignment, in contrast to other "hot Neptunes" that have been studied around older stars.