K2-25 is a young red dwarf star located in the Hyades cluster. There is a single known Neptune-sized planet in a 3.5 day orbit.
Using proper motion measurements in a search for low-luminosity members of the Hyades cluster, William van Altena first identified the star vA 50 (later known as K2-25) as a probable cluster member. [12] Membership in the Hyades cluster was later confirmed. [13] [14] [4]
K2-25 is a red dwarf that is only 26% the mass of the Sun and less than 1% of the luminosity. [6] As a member of the Hyades cluster, it is only 650 million years old as compared to the Sun's 4.5 billion. [8]
There is clear evidence for starspot activity in both the Kepler data and radial velocities as well as the associated activity indicators. [15]
The star has one known planet, K2-25b, with searches of the Kepler space telescope data for transits of additional planets being negative. [4] Analysis of transit-timing variations from the Spitzer Space Telescope as well as the MEarth Project also found no evidence of additional planets. [16]
Brightness measurements of K2-25 taken by the Kepler space telescope during its extended K2 mission led to the discovery of the transiting planet K2-25b. [4] [10]
K2-25b is a Hot Neptune type planet in an eccentric 3.48 day orbit. [15]
Due to its proximity and the activity levels of its host star, K2-25b should be losing some of its atmosphere to space; however, observations of two transits by the Hubble Space Telescope to search for escaping neutral hydrogen were negative. [17]
Companion (in order from star) | Mass | Semimajor axis (AU) | Orbital period (days) | Eccentricity | Inclination | Radius |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
K2-25b | 24.5+5.7 −5.2 M🜨 | 0.0287(12) | 3.48456408+0.0000006 −0.0000005 | 0.428+0.050 −0.049 | 88.16+0.18 −0.21 ° | 3.44(12) R🜨 |