The Planet-Hunting TESS Discovers Its Smallest Exoplanet to Date [L 98-59b]

Universe Today ^ | July 3, 2019 | Matt Williams

[SunkenCiv]

...one of TESS’ most recent discoveries includes a three-planet system that orbits a star (L 98-59) located roughly 35 light-years from Earth. One of the planets, known as L 98-59b, is between the sizes of Earth and Mars – effectively making it the smallest exoplanet discovered by TESS to date. The discovery also highlights the sophistication of TESS and doubles the number of small exoplanets that are considered worthy of follow-up studies...

While L 98-59b represents a new record for TESS, being about 10% smaller than the previous record-holder it discovered, it is not the smallest exoplanet discovered to date. That record goes to Kepler-37b, a rocky exoplanet located about 210 light-years from Earth that is only about one-third the size of Earth and 20% larger than the Moon.

However, the discovery of L 98-59b is made more impressive when you consider the fact that it orbits an M-type (red dwarf) star that is roughly one-third the size and mass of our Sun. This star is significantly less bright than Kepler-37, which is a G-type (yellow dwarf) star – similar to our Sun – even though L 98-59 is particularly bright as red dwarf goes.

[SunkenCiv]

NASA's Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS) has discovered a world between the sizes of Mars and Earth orbiting a bright, cool, nearby star. The planet, called L 98-59b, marks the smallest found by TESS yet.

Two other worlds orbit the same star. While all three planets' sizes are known, further study with other telescopes will be needed to determine if they have atmospheres and, if so, which gases are present. The L 98-59 worlds nearly double the number of small exoplanets -- that is, planets beyond our solar system -- that have the best potential for this kind of follow-up.

L 98-59b is around 80 Earth's size and about 10 smaller than the previous record holder discovered by TESS. Its host star, L 98-59, is an M dwarf about one-third the mass of the Sun and lies about 35 light-years away in the southern constellation Volans. While L 98-59b is a record for TESS, even smaller planets have been discovered in data collected by NASA's Kepler satellite, including Kepler-37b, which is only 20 larger than the Moon.

The two other worlds in the system, L 98-59c and L 98-59d, are respectively around 1.4 and 1.6 times Earth's size. All three were discovered by TESS using transits, periodic dips in the star's brightness caused when each planet passes in front of it.

TESS Discovers Its Tiniest World To Date

NASA Goddard | Published on Jun 27, 2019 | Music: "Autumn Rush" from Killer Tracks

[SunkenCiv]

Tess of the d’Urbervilles, all over again.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ogPZ5CY9KoM

[SunkenCiv]

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[Telepathic Intruder]

So the smallest exoplanet discovered to date is actually Kepler-37b. Well, glad we got that worked out.

[freedumb2003]

I can’t help but think of the opening to MIB II with the little spaceship that searches and destroys a bunch of planets on its way to Earth.

[Cowboy Bob]

I think of the doomsday machine from Star Trek....it hunts planets and destroys them!

[freedumb2003]

>>I think of the doomsday machine from Star Trek....it hunts planets and destroys them!<<

Decker going into the mouth was one of the most frightening scenes of a TV show I remember seeing as a kid.

[Telepathic Intruder]

It wasn’t a mouth! I’m so sick of people calling it that. It was an aperture for firing anti-protons, and then consuming the left-over debris for energy.

OK, I guess it was a mouth.

[freedumb2003]

>>It wasn’t a mouth! I’m so sick of people calling it that. It was an aperture for firing anti-protons, and then consuming the left-over debris for energy.

OK, I guess it was a mouth.<<

Maw?

;)

[Phlap]

So? We are wasting our recourses on anything that is not related to propulsion. We know stuff is out there but we ain’t going anywhere with our current modes of going. Just sayin.

[Telepathic Intruder]

Yes, maw is a much more appropriate term than mouth.

[Dahoser]

I recently found this feature on The Doomsday Machine which is simply fantastic.

Star Trek, "The Doomsday Machine" Revealed
(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AAfEXDCsRmg&t=1s)

Also, you can get soundtracks of the episodes on Amazon and elsewhere, and many are available through Prime Music.

Star Trek: Volume 2 - Doomsday Machine and Amok Time

[freedumb2003]

Best darn thread drift EVER!

:)

[Little Pig]

First we gotta find someplace worth going. I can all but guarantee you that the minute we find one of these exoplanets in the “Goldilocks Zone” has water and an oxygen atmosphere, the research effort will shift over to “how quickly can we get something there”.

[Redcitizen]

Ion engines could have been on the road space wise already. Even if it was only Alpha Centauri, we could give it a try.

[SunkenCiv]

Since there are people who are working on propulsion, that's just an absurdly stupid thing for you to say.

[Phlap]

There is nothing stupid about my statement. Any resources used for anything not related to propulsion is wasted.

[Red Badger]

Paw?...................

[SunkenCiv]

Of course it's stupid. Assuming that interstellar travel can become possible, destinations will have to have been developed by then. Meanwhile, pure research is never a waste of resources.

[Phlap]

Calling me stupid only reflects your lack of intellect. I stand by my statement.