Fixed response models fit TOI-790.03 images better at the target than at a star 41 arcsec away in TESS Sectors 69 and 96

We fit flux loss images for two known TOI-790.03 transit events in public TESS target pixel data. The test compares the target with a known star 41 arcsec away. It uses a fixed TESS response model. The image residual root mean square (RMS) is 21.3 times larger at the neighbour in Sector 69. In Sector 96, this ratio is 20.4. Both comparisons hold the source sites fixed. The primary free position fits are 0.22 and 0.14 arcsec from the fitted target reference positions. All eight baseline fits that include spacecraft motion terms stay within 0.73 arcsec. The full set of 16 baseline fits reaches 13.08 arcsec, which shows the effect of model choice. We also make 1200 conditional block sign fits and 34 source injections in real blank windows. All injected sources recover closer to their input site than to the other tested site. The largest recovery error is 2.75 arcsec. These tests support the target over this neighbour under the fixed response and transit models. They do not give absolute position confidence limits or rule out unresolved sources. The work does not confirm a planet or determine a unique orbit period. The package contains code, calibrated pixel arrays, source records, figures, full result tables, and reproduction instructions.

TOI-790.03 · TIC 308994098 · TESS · transit source location · pixel response function · background stars · source recovery · public astronomical data