We present a new {\em Spitzer} transit observation of K2−28b, a sub-Neptune (Rp=2.45±0.28REarth) orbiting a relatively bright (Vmag=16.06, Kmag=10.75) metal-rich M4 dwarf (EPIC 206318379). This star is one of only seven with masses less than 0.2 M_{Sun} known to host transiting planets, and the planet appears to be a slightly smaller analogue of GJ 1214b (2.85±0.20REarth; \citealt{2013A&A...549A..10H}). Our new {\em Spitzer} observations were taken two years after the original K2 discovery data and have a significantly higher cadence, allowing us to derive improved estimates for this planet's radius, semi-major axis, and orbital period, which greatly reduce the uncertainty in the prediction of near future transit times for the {\em James Webb Space Telescope} ({\em JWST}) observations. We also evaluate the system's suitability for atmospheric characterization with {\em JWST} and find that it is currently the only small (< 3 R_{Earth}) and cool (<600 K) planet aside from GJ 1214b with a potentially detectable secondary eclipse. We also note that this system is a favorable target for near-infrared radial velocity instruments on larger telescopes (e.g., the Habitable Planet Finder on the Hobby-Eberly Telescope), making it one of only a handful of small, cool planets accessible with this technique. Finally, we compare our results with the simulated catalog of the Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite ({\em TESS}) and find K2−28b to be representative of the kind of mid-M systems that should be detectible in the {\em TESS} sample.
@article{arxiv.1801.10177,
title = {An Improved Transit Measurement for a 2.4 R_{Earth} Planet Orbiting A Bright Mid-M Dwarf K2$-$28},
author = {Ge Chen and Heather A. Knutson and Courtney D. Dressing and Caroline V. Morley and Michael Werner and Varoujan Gorjian and Charles Beichman and Björn Benneke and Jessie Christiansen and David Ciardi and Ian Crossfield and Steve B. Howell and Jessica E. Krick and John Livingston and Farisa Y. Morales and Joshua E. Schlieder},
journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:1801.10177},
year = {2018}
}