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NASA’s TESS has identified two ‘puffiest’ planets in a single star system, both as large as Jupiter but with very low mass. This rare find offers insights into planetary formation and evolution.
NASA’s Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS) has identified two of the lightest, ‘cotton candy’-like planets ever discovered, both orbiting the same star. This finding highlights the rarity of such super puffy planets and provides new opportunities for studying planetary formation.
The two planets, designated TOI-791 b and TOI-791 c, are as large as Jupiter but have only 3 and 5.9 percent of its mass, respectively. Their low density makes them some of the puffiest planets known, with a density comparable to cotton candy, according to NASA.
Researchers, led by a team from Oxford University, analyzed 1,122 days of data collected over seven years by TESS, which allowed them to determine the planets’ long orbital periods and the gravitational interactions between the planets. These interactions cause variations in their transit timing, which helped scientists estimate their masses.
NASA scientists noted that such planets are extremely rare, especially with both present in the same star system. Further research aims to understand their atmospheric composition, rotation effects, and formation processes.
Implications for Understanding Planetary Formation
This discovery provides valuable insights into the diversity of planetary systems and challenges existing models of planet formation. The existence of such low-density, large planets suggests that planetary evolution can produce extremely puffed-up worlds, which may influence how scientists interpret the development of exoplanetary systems.
Studying these planets could reveal how planetary atmospheres and compositions evolve under different conditions, and why such ‘cotton candy’ planets are so rare in the galaxy. It also underscores the importance of continued observation to uncover more unusual worlds.
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Background on TESS and Exoplanet Discoveries
Launched in 2018, NASA’s TESS mission aims to identify exoplanets around nearby stars by monitoring their transits. Since its launch, TESS has detected nearly 8,000 planet candidates, with 897 confirmed so far. Its wide field of view allows it to survey a much larger area than previous missions like Kepler.
Previous discoveries have included a range of exoplanets, but the identification of such extremely low-density, Jupiter-sized planets is exceedingly rare. The detection of these two planets in the same system adds to the growing understanding of planetary diversity and the dynamic processes shaping exoplanets.
“The fact that these two are in the same star system is even rarer, and their properties challenge our current understanding of planetary formation.”
— an anonymous researcher
planetary atmosphere spectrometer
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Unanswered Questions About Composition and Formation
Scientists still do not know the detailed chemical makeup of the planets’ atmospheres or how their rotation influences their shape. The exact processes that led to their extreme puffiness remain unclear, and further observations are needed to understand their origins fully.
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Future Observations and Research Directions
Researchers plan to use additional telescopes and spectroscopic analysis to study the atmospheres of these planets and determine their chemical compositions. Continued monitoring may also reveal more about their rotation, internal structure, and formation history.
Upcoming missions and improved instrumentation could provide deeper insights into these unique worlds, potentially uncovering more similar planets in the galaxy.
astronomy telescope for exoplanets
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Key Questions
Why are these planets called ‘cotton candy’ planets?
They are called ‘cotton candy’ planets because their densities are extremely low, making them very light and airy, similar to the texture of cotton candy, despite being as large as Jupiter.
How rare are such planets?
Such super puffy, low-density planets are very rare, and having two in the same star system makes this discovery even more uncommon according to NASA researchers.
What does this discovery mean for planetary science?
It challenges current models of planet formation and evolution, suggesting that planets can become extremely puffed-up under certain conditions, which may influence future theories and observations.
When were these planets discovered?
The planets were identified through data collected over seven years by TESS, with the discovery announced recently based on the analysis of that data.
What are scientists hoping to learn next?
Scientists aim to study the chemical composition of the planets’ atmospheres, their rotation effects, and the processes that led to their extreme puffiness.
Source: Engadget
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