Produced by: Tarun Mishra
Astronomers searching for habitable worlds beyond our Solar System have identified 5500 potential candidates, including two massive planets orbiting a distant star.
The newly discovered planets, TOI-4600 b and c, are larger than Saturn, one of the largest planets in our Solar System. They orbit a mysterious star nearly 700 light years away from Earth, with the outer planet completing its orbit in 438 days.
The star around which the planets orbit is an early K dwarf, cooler than our Sun. K Dwarf stars, appearing orange or orange-red, contrast with the relatively hot, yellow-white appearance of the Sun.
These giant planets offer valuable insights into the formation and evolution of gas giants, bridging the gap between planets like Jupiter and Saturn in our Solar System and "hot Jupiters" found elsewhere in the galaxy.
NASA's Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS) detected the presence of TOI-4600 b and c using the transit method, observing the dimming of starlight as planets pass in front of their host star.
TOI-4600 b and c exhibit long-period orbits, with planet b completing its orbit in 83 days and planet c in 483 days. This marks the longest orbit ever detected by TESS.
The extended orbits of these planets offer a unique opportunity for studying temperate gas giants, potentially revealing atmospheric compositions distinct from scorching hot Jupiters.
The detailed findings of the discovery have been published in The Astrophysical Journal Letters, providing valuable data for ongoing research in exoplanet science.