A Terrestrial-sized Planet Candidate Orbiting the Nearby M-dwarf TIC 22760643.01

Abstract The identification and multi-sector validation of a terrestrial-sized planet candidate orbiting the nearby M-dwarf TIC 22760643 (L 326-21, d ≈ 15.8 pc) are reported. Using TESS photometry from Sectors 10, 37, and 64, a periodic transit signal with an average orbital period of P ≈ 7.58 days is characterized. The analysis reveals a stable transit depth of approximately 1100 ppm across three years of observations. Utilizing stellar parameters ( R * = 0.27 R ⊙ , T eff = 3219 K), a planetary radius ranging from 0.95 to 1.07 R ⊕ is derived. False-positive mitigation, including centroid offset analysis (0.003 pixels) and a secondary eclipse search, strongly supports the planetary nature of the signal. Given its proximity, this candidate is a high-priority target for future mass measurement and atmospheric characterization.