What can gas giant exoplanets orbiting far from their star teach scientists about the formation and evolution of gas giants and exoplanetary systems? This is what a recent study published in The Astronomical Journal hopes to address as an international team of more than 80 researchers report the discovery of a gas giant exoplanet as part of the Giant Outer Transiting Exoplanet Mass (GOT 'EM) survey. This study has the potential to help scientists better understand the formation and evolution of exoplanetary systems that mirror our own and what this could mean for finding life as we know it beyond Earth.
For the study, the researchers used data obtained from NASA’s Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS) mission to confirm the existence of TOI-4465 b, which is located approximately 122 parsecs (398 light-years) from Earth while having an orbital period of approximately 102 days. Additionally, TOI-4465 b is estimated to have a radius and mass of approximately 1.25 and 5.89 Jupiters, respectively. What makes this discovery intriguing is that it was conducted with the help of 24 citizen scientists from 10 countries, which helped the researchers catch a second transit of TOI-4465 b passing in front of its parent star, as two transits are required to confirm the existence of an exoplanet using that method.
“The discovery and confirmation of TOI-4465 b not only expands our knowledge of planets in the far reaches of other star systems but also shows how passionate astronomy enthusiasts can play a direct role in frontier scientific research,” said Dr. Zahra Essack, who is a Postdoctoral Researcher at the University of New Mexico and lead author of the study. “It is a great example of the power of citizen science, teamwork, and the importance of global collaboration in astronomy.”
What new discoveries will the GOT ‘EM survey make in the coming years and decades? Only time will tell, and this is why we science!
As always, keep doing science & keep looking up!
Sources: The Astronomical Journal, EurekAlert!
Featured Image: Artist's illustration of TOI-4465 b. (Credit: NASA)
