9621 Agnes Crossing, Lake Suzanneview, New Mexico Island 84604-9295.
Using TESS, scientists identified two long-period exoplanets TOI-4600 b and c. These discoveries open new avenues of research in the understanding of exoplanets, and the results highlight the
Using TESS, scientists identified two long-period exoplanets TOI-4600 b and c. These discoveries open new avenues of research in the understanding of exoplanets, and the results highlight the importance of collaborative efforts, including contributions from amateur astronomers.
Scientists from the University of New Mexico (UNM) and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) discovered and confirmed the two longest exoplanets ever found by TESS. These long-period large exoplanets orbit a K dwarf star and belong to a class of planets known as hot Jupiters, with orbital periods of 10-200 days and at least six times the radius of Earth. This latest discovery opens up exciting research opportunities for the future search for long-period planets like those in our solar system.
The study, titled “TOI-4600 b and c: Two long-period giant planets orbiting an early K dwarf,” was published Aug. 30. Astrophysical Journal Letters. The exoplanets TOI-4600 b and c were discovered using photometric data from the Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS) and have been accompanied by observations with ground-based telescopes as they provide better resolution.
The observing strategy adopted by NASA’s TESS, which divides each hemisphere into 13 sectors studied over approximately 28 days, provides the most comprehensive search for transiting planets in the sky. This approach has already proven its ability to detect both major and minor planets around different types of stars. In the example of TOI-4600, this star is a K dwarf, also known as an orange dwarf; this means stars that are slightly smaller and cooler than the Sun.
Exoplanets must pass at least twice during the TESS observation range for exoplanets to be detected in the correct period by the Science Processing Operations Center pipeline (SPOC) and Quick View Pipeline (QLP), which scan at 2-minute and 30-minute intervals. the rhythm of the TESS data, respectively. Since 74 percent of the total TESS sky coverage is observed for only 28 days, most of the exoplanets detected by TESS have periods shorter than 40 days. Therefore, TOI-4600 b’s 82.69 days, or approximately 3 months, and TOI-4600 c’s, 482,82 days, or 16 months, make exploration even more valuable.
The paper was analyzed with colleagues, including lead author Ismael Mireles of the University of New Mexico, Diana Dragomir, an assistant professor of physics and astronomy at the University of New Mexico, and collaborators from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and the University of Bern. data in order. Measure the periods and magnitudes of these planets.
After the initial detection of the transits, Mireles and his team needed to confirm that they were real planets and determine which signal the star was coming from. TESS’s diagnostic tools showed that the signals from the target area were indeed real. They observed the transit with the help of TESS Tracking Program (TFOP) Subgroup 1 (SG1), a global network of professional and amateur astronomers with access to small and large telescopes, thereby confirming to researchers that this planet is indeed there. aim. Another factor Mireles and his team had to consider was the masses and sizes of the planets. To achieve this, they modified the velocity measurement by observing how much the host star wobbled as the host star pulled the planet.
“When we took the measurements, we saw that the target star was moving very little. So you could be responsible for what we saw when we started. These two things combined almost ruled it out. We were pretty sure we had two planets back then,” Mireles said.
The researchers found that these two planets and the inner planet TOI-4600 b have a period of 82.69 days and are almost seven times Earth’s in radius. It is between the dimensions of Neptune and Saturn. The estimated temperature of this planet, named TOI-4600 b, is about 170 degrees Fahrenheit; it’s hot but colder than most planets astronomers have found. The second planet found, TOI-4600 c, is about nine and a half times the radius of Earth, which means it is roughly similar to Saturn. When TESS first observed the star, it passed only once the first time, then a second time almost 3 years later.
“If you have two passes, you have an idea of what periods can be like. There may be 965 days separating them; half, a third, a quarter, etc. Mireles said shorter periods can be ignored, as TESS has observed the star for a long time and only two periods remain: 965 days or half that. The researchers used a model developed by co-author Hugh Osborne of the University of Bern to compare possible orbital periods and determine which were the most likely, and found that 965 was more likely than half, or 482.82 days. . TOI-4600 c has a period of 482.82 days, making it the longest planet found to date by TESS and one of the coldest planets found by TESS, with a temperature of around -110 degrees Fahrenheit.
Kathryn Hesse, head of TOI and validation at MIT, collaborated with Mireles and the team on the analysis of the TESS data. Hesse helped process and analyze large volumes of data and put the system in the context of other multi-planetary systems found by missions, including TESS. Comparing the TOI-4600 system with other discovered exoplanet systems helped investigate features such as formation times and processes, and helped the researchers begin to place the system in the wider context of exoplanet systems.
“The main thing is to try to learn more about planet formation, because based on what we know about exoplanets we’ve found, we see that nothing is like the Solar System right now. It’s interesting that we want to learn about the formation of this planet. We currently have over 5,000 exoplanets, but none of these systems are actually like the Solar System.Mireles said, “We also want to learn how these different types of systems formed and moved.” [ред. — Щойно досягнуто нової віхи, 5500 екзопланет.]
Mireles and researchers became interested in these discoveries because of the discovery of two long-period giant planets; This is a configuration that astronomers often don’t see, despite having four long-period giants or one long-period giant in the solar system found. As Mirels points out, this raises further research discussion and questions: “Do we want to learn how they formed? Are there other planets in this system? This tells us how these giant planets affect smaller planets that may or may not be there, and why they’re not there. “There’s still a lot we want to learn about the formation of planets that will tell us a lot about it.”
Finally, Mireles encourages community scientists and astronomy enthusiasts to join and become involved in this scientific exploration. There will be another possible transit on Monday, October 16 for those interested and willing to watch to confirm that the outer planet’s period is indeed 482 days. People with smaller telescopes can also participate if they have the right tools. “There are social scientists or amateur astronomers who have their own telescopes and help us with all these observations. “There is actually a group of people who have access to telescopes that confirm that a transit event has occurred in a star of interest,” Mireles said.
“People who are retired or have other jobs but are also amateur astronomers provide very useful data to help confirm these planets. The results they produce are professional. “The efforts of these dedicated citizen scientists are crucial to the process of confirming these planets,” said Dragomir, an associate professor in the Department of Physics and Astronomy at Moscow National University.
To learn more about this discovery, see TESS Discovering the Longest-Orbiting Exoplanet.
Source: Port Altele
As an experienced journalist and author, Mary has been reporting on the latest news and trends for over 5 years. With a passion for uncovering the stories behind the headlines, Mary has earned a reputation as a trusted voice in the world of journalism. Her writing style is insightful, engaging and thought-provoking, as she takes a deep dive into the most pressing issues of our time.
