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Abstract: This project confirms the discovery of two exoplanets in the young exosolar system TOI 3353. Young stars are important targets in the search for exoplanets because the most dynamic stages of planetary evolution  occur early on. Most of the literature focused on understanding exoplanets is built on data of planets orbiting older, field stars, which generally host stable planetary systems in the final stages of their evolution. By observing younger systems, we may better inform our understanding of planetary evolution. In this project, I use a Hamiltonian Monte Carlo Markov Chain algorithm to fit model transits to lightcurve data. As a result, I determine various planetary and orbital parameters, including the radius, orbital period, and transit duration for each planet. I continue to characterize these planets through spectroscopic analysis of lithium absorption features. Using the lithium abundance of M dwarf stars associated with TOI 3353, I estimate stellar age more accurately than with methods such as gyrochronology or isochrone comparisons and can confirm that TOI 3353 is a young system. This project builds off of previous work done studying young exoplanets by the TESS Hunt for Young and Maturing Exoplanets (THYME) group, so it contributes to a larger effort involved in understanding planetary evolution. 

Advisor: Professor Elisabeth Newton

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