Latest news with #TESS
Yahoo
7 days ago
- Science
- Yahoo
A tiny star gave birth to an absolute giant. Scientists are puzzled.
Astronomers have discovered a world outside the solar system about 240 light-years away in space that is a freak of nature. Somehow, a little red dwarf star only one-fifth the size of the sun gave birth to an enormous baby — an exoplanet that is a little larger than Saturn, although it weighs about half as much as our ringed gas giant. Discovered in a sweeping investigation of NASA's Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite data, this world, TOI-6894 b, and its host star have set a new record for their incongruous sizes. Together they are the smallest known star to have an orbiting giant planet. If there were a Guinness Book of Galactic Records, this one would have a landslide victory for the titleholder. The star, TOI-6894, is just 60 percent the size of the next smallest star with such a planet. The pair's existence breaks all the rules of what scientists know about planet formation. "We don't really understand how a star with so little mass can form such a massive planet!" said Vincent Van Eylen, a researcher at the University College London, in a statement. "By finding planetary systems different from our solar system, we can test our models and better understand how our own solar system formed." SEE ALSO: The Webb telescope found something exceedingly rare around a dying star NASA's TESS mission — short for Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite — was designed to find new worlds as they pass in front of their host stars. Credit: NASA illustration Edward Bryant, who led the research team, found the behemoth first by poring over TESS space telescope data of over 91,000 small red dwarfs, aka M-type stars. Then he used the European Southern Observatory's Very Large Telescope in Chile to reveal TOI-6894b. According to How to Make a Really Humongous Planet 101, it should be difficult — nearly impossible — for stars this tiny to do this. That's because the disks of gas and dust swirling around young stars are the construction materials for planets. Small stars tend to have smaller and lighter disks. Gas giants like our own Jupiter or Saturn need a lot of stuff to form their cores. They then are able to attract a lot more gas quickly from their surroundings to collect an atmosphere. The mechanics are called "core accretion," and it seems to work best when the building materials are plentiful. But TOI-6894b seems to be playing by a different rulebook. It's about 53 times the weight of Earth and made partly of heavy elements, according to a paper on its discovery published in Nature Astronomy. In fact, the exoplanet is thought to have about 12 Earths'-worth of those chemicals. That's way beyond what most small young stars are thought to have in their midst. Some scientists don't want to throw the baby out with the bathwater: Though the exoplanet doesn't fit neatly into the core-accretion model, it could have formed in a similar way but with a tweak. Perhaps this world started collecting ingredients to form its core very early in its star's life, when the disk was still chock-full of raw material. Or maybe instead of growing a large core quickly to pull in more gas in a runaway process à la Jupiter-like planets, TOI-6894b could have just kept hoarding gas and heavy elements gradually over time. But even that would require a bigger original supply of dust. In a survey sample of 70 disks around small stars, only five had enough material to build a planet on the scale of TOI-6894b, according to the new paper. Another idea, called gravitational instability, suggests the disk could collapse under its own weight to create a planet directly. But the discovery team for TOI-6894 b points out that the process doesn't quite work for something the size of this exoplanet — at least according to computer simulations. Whatever the origin story, TOI-6894b is leading the ranks of other known gas giants orbiting small and faint stars that astronomers want to study. Scientists also have their eyes on LHS 3154 b, GJ 3512 b, and TZ Ari b. Small stars tend to have smaller and lighter protoplanetary disks. Credit: NASA / JPL-Caltech illustration "This discovery will be a cornerstone for understanding the extremes of giant planet formation," Bryant said. The next step for the research team is to use the James Webb Space Telescope to study the exoplanet's atmosphere, which will occur within the next year. By measuring the various materials in the planet, the researchers may be able to determine the size and structure of its core. That could answer the question of whether TOI-6894 b formed through one of the known models. They also have a hunch the exoplanet's atmosphere is rich in methane, something Webb could help confirm. TOI-6894 b is unusually cool for a gas giant, about 300 degrees Fahrenheit. Most of the gas giants known are "hot Jupiters," with temperatures between 1,340 and 3,140 degrees Fahrenheit. Such a discovery of a relatively chilly gas giant would be very rare, the researchers said. "Most stars in our galaxy are actually small stars exactly like this," said Daniel Bayliss, a coauthor from the University of Warwick in the United Kingdom. "The fact that this star hosts a giant planet has big implications for the total number of giant planets we estimate exist in our galaxy."
Dubai Eye
11-06-2025
- Science
- Dubai Eye
UAE astronomers detect exoplanets orbiting distant stars
Astronomers in the UAE have detected exoplanets orbiting stars far beyond the solar system, the Abu Dhabi-based International Astronomy Centre announced. Al Khatem Astronomical Observatory, located deep in the Abu Dhabi desert, worked in partnership with the NASA Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS) mission. The astronmers analysed subtle changes in the brightness of stars to detect the transit of planets in front of them - a technique used to discover exoplanets. Eng. Khalfan Al Nuaimi, Chairman of the International Astronomy Center, said the detection of these planets is based on preliminary data provided by the TESS telescope, and is being verified on Earth through a global network of specialised observatories. Eng. Mohammed Shawkat Awda, Director of the International Astronomy Center, said that the Al Khatim Observatory officially joined the TESS Follow-Up Observing Program (TFOP) program in June 2024, after completing a rigorous training program conducted by international experts, followed by a successful practical test to observe one of the candidate planets. He explained that since joining, it has conducted a series of nighttime observations, each lasting between four and seven hours, focusing on 12 stars suspected of having planets. He noted that using its main telescope, it was able to transform the status of 10 of these stars from "candidate planets" to "confirmed planets," an achievement that demonstrates the precision of the observatory's research. Official documents from the Global Programme indicate that the Khatem Observatory achieved these results independently, reflecting the efficiency of its equipment and the accuracy of the observations it provides, especially in light of the environmental challenges facing ground-based observations. Awda emphasised that this contribution represents an important scientific step for the UAE in the field of space exploration, placing it in a leading position in the search for planets that may be habitable, or providing new insights into the formation and evolution of planets in distant galaxies.
Economy ME
11-06-2025
- Science
- Economy ME
UAE contributes to discovering new exoplanets, marks major milestone in astronomical research
The UAE's International Astronomical Center announced today that the Al Khatim Astronomical Observatory, located in the Abu Dhabi desert, has participated in observing and confirming the existence of exoplanets, marking a scientific milestone that reflects the UAE's growing role in astronomical research. An exoplanet is any planet located beyond the solar system. The achievement reinforces the UAE's active participation in leading international scientific projects aimed at deepening the understanding of the universe and exploring the potential for life beyond Earth. UAE collaborates with NASA's Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite Commenting on the UAE's latest achievement, Eng. Khalfan Al Nuaimi, president of the International Astronomical Center, said that this contribution formed part of a collaboration with NASA's Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS). The UAE-based observatory employs techniques to analyze minute fluctuations in stellar brightness to detect planets passing in front of their host stars, a widely adopted method for discovering exoplanets. Meanwhile, Eng. Mohammad Shawkat Odeh, director of the center, added that the Al Khatim Observatory officially joined the TESS Follow-up Observing Program (TFOP) in June 2024, following the successful completion of a rigorous training program led by international experts, followed by a successful practical test observing a candidate planet. The accomplishment of discovering exoplanets aligns with the UAE's strategic directives to strengthen its scientific leadership and contribute to global efforts to unlock the secrets of the cosmos, supported by state-of-the-art infrastructure and an ambitious vision for the future. Source: WAM Read: UAE's MBRSC, Firefly Aerospace partner to deploy Rashid 2 Rover to far side of moon UAE expands space exploration efforts The discovery of exoplanets is yet another milestone in the UAE's space exploration success story. In April this year, the UAE marked the anniversary of the first human spaceflight, continuing its significant contributions to space exploration led by its qualified national workforce and ambitious youth. This year's anniversary highlighted the UAE's emergence as a leading space exploration success story in the Arab and regional spheres. Its accomplishments include groundbreaking projects and the development of a skilled generation of astronauts, administrators and technical personnel. The UAE achieved a historic milestone in the first quarter of this year by launching six satellites: Thuraya 4, MBZ-SAT, Al Ain Sat-1, HCT-SAT 1, the second phase of Foresight Constellation, and Etihad-SAT. Recent milestones also included February's agreement between Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Center (MBRSC) and Thales Alenia Space. Under the agreement, Thales Alenia Space will be a strategic partner in the development of the Pressure Equalisation Unit of the Gateway Lunar Space Station. The UAE's participation in this project signifies a major step in its strategy to establish a prominent global presence in space science and technology. The UAE joined the Gateway project in January 2024 alongside the U.S., Japan, Canada, and the European Union, and announced its intent to send the first Emirati and Arab astronaut to lunar orbit.
Sharjah 24
11-06-2025
- Science
- Sharjah 24
Emirati observatory contributes to discovering new exoplanets
The achievement reinforces the UAE's active participation in leading international scientific projects aimed at deepening the understanding of the universe and exploring the potential for life beyond Earth. Eng. Khalfan Al Nuaimi, President of the International Astronomical Centre, stated that this contribution formed part of a collaboration with NASA's Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS). The Emirati observatory employs techniques to analyse minute fluctuations in stellar brightness in order to detect planets passing in front of their host stars — a widely adopted method for discovering exoplanets. Eng. Mohammad Shawkat Odeh, Director of the Centre, added that the Al Khatim Observatory officially joined the TESS Follow-up Observing Programme (TFOP) in June 2024, following the successful completion of a rigorous training programme led by international experts, followed by a successful practical test observing a candidate planet. This accomplishment aligns with the UAE's strategic directives to strengthen its scientific leadership and contribute to global efforts to unlock the secrets of the cosmos, supported by state-of-the-art infrastructure and an ambitious vision for the future.
TAG 91.1
11-06-2025
- Science
- TAG 91.1
UAE astronomers detect exoplanets orbiting distant stars
UAE astronomers have reportedly detected the existence of exoplanets orbiting stars far beyond our solar system, the Abu-Dhabi based International Astronomy Centre announced. Al Khatem Astronomical Observatory, located deep in the Abu Dhabi desert, analysed subtle changed in the brightness of stars to detect the transit of planets in front of them - a technique used to discover exoplanets - in cooperation with the NASA Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS) mission. His Excellency Eng. Khalfan Al Nuaimi, Chairman of the International Astronomy Center, said the detection of these planets is based on preliminary data provided by the TESS telescope, and is being verified on Earth through a global network of specialised observatories. Eng. Mohammed Shawkat Awda, Director of the International Astronomy Center, said that the Al Khatim Observatory officially joined the TESS Follow-Up Observing Program (TFOP) program in June 2024, after completing a rigorous training program conducted by international experts, followed by a successful practical test to observe one of the candidate planets. He explained that since joining, it has conducted a series of nighttime observations, each lasting between four and seven hours, focusing on 12 stars suspected of having planets. He noted that using its main telescope, it was able to transform the status of 10 of these stars from "candidate planets" to "confirmed planets," an achievement that demonstrates the precision of the observatory's research. Official documents from the Global Programme indicate that the Khatem Observatory achieved these results independently, reflecting the efficiency of its equipment and the accuracy of the observations it provides, especially in light of the environmental challenges facing ground-based observations. Awda emphasized that this contribution represents an important scientific step for the UAE in the field of space exploration, placing it in a leading position in the search for planets that may be habitable, or providing new insights into the formation and evolution of planets in distant galaxies.
