Astronomers Uncover Exoplanet With an Unprecedented Orbit

Scitech Daily ^ | September 6, 2023 | University of New Mexico

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Using TESS, scientists identified two long-period exoplanets, TOI-4600 b and c. These discoveries open new research avenues in understanding exoplanets, and the findings emphasize the significance of collaborative efforts, including contributions from amateur astronomers.

Scientists from The University of New Mexico (UNM), and Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) have detected and validated two of the longest-period exoplanets found by TESS to date. These long-period large exoplanets orbit a K dwarf star and belong to a class of planets known as warm Jupiters, which have orbital periods of 10-200 days and are at least six times Earth's radius. This recent discovery offers exciting research opportunities for the future of finding long-period planets that resemble those in our own solar system...

The exoplanets, TOI-4600 b and c, were detected using photometric data from the Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS) and followed up with observations using the telescopes on the ground since they provide better resolution...

TOI-4600... is a K dwarf star, also known as an orange dwarf, which are stars slightly smaller and cooler than the Sun...

Because 74 percent of TESS' total sky coverage is only observed for 28 days, the majority of TESS exoplanets detected have periods less than 40 days. Therefore, TOI-4600 b's 82.69-day, or nearly 3-month, and TOI–4600 c's 482.82-day, or 16-month, periods make their discoveries even more valuable...

The second planet found, TOI-4600 c, is about nine and a half times Earth's radius, meaning it is roughly Saturn-sized. It initially transited only once the first time TESS observed the star before transiting a second time almost 3 years later.

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Scientists have discovered a unique system around a star, TOI-4600, containing two long-period planets. This artist’s rendition shows the two planets and star in the TOI-4600 system.

Credit: Tedi Vick

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Reference: "TOI-4600 b and c: Two Long-period Giant Planets Orbiting an Early K Dwarf" by Ismael Mireles, Diana Dragomir, Hugh P. Osborn, Katharine Hesse, Karen A. Collins, Steven Villanueva, Allyson Bieryla, David R. Ciardi, Keivan G. Stassun, Mallory Harris, Jack J. Lissauer, Richard P. Schwarz, Gregor Srdoc, Khalid Barkaoui, Arno Riffeser, Kim K. McLeod, Joshua Pepper, Nolan Grieves, Vera Maria Passegger, Solène Ulmer-Moll, Joseph E. Rodriguez, Dax L. Feliz, Samuel Quinn, Andrew W. Boyle, Michael Fausnaugh, Michelle Kunimoto, Pamela Rowden, Andrew Vanderburg, Bill Wohler, Jon M. Jenkins, David W. Latham, George R. Ricker, Sara Seager and Joshua N. Winn, 30 August 2023, The Astrophysical Journal Letters. DOI: 10.3847/2041-8213/aceb69

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[BigFreakinToad]

thanks for the post. I love exoplanet articles.

[SunkenCiv]

My pleasure.