Scientists JupiterAround a low-mass star, the -sized planet TOI-4860 b challenges conventional theories of planet formation.
An international team of researchers has discovered a rare Jupiter-sized planet orbiting a low-mass star called TOI-4860 in the constellation Corvus.
Dubbed TOI-4860 b, this newly discovered gas giant is unusual for two reasons. For one, such low-mass stars are not expected to host Jupiter-like planets, which are thought to be particularly rich in heavy elements.
This research University of Birmingham Earlier this month, astronomers said Royal Astronomical Society Monthly Notice.
“In the standard planet-formation model, the less massive a star is, the less massive the disk of matter around it will be. Planets form from that disk, so massive planets like Jupiter don’t form.” was widely expected.”
— George Dransfield, PhD Student, University of Birmingham
Tools and methods used for discovery
The planet was first identified as: NASA‘s transiting exoplanet probe was observed as a dip in brightness as it passed in front of its host star, but that data alone was insufficient to confirm it was a planet.
The research team used the SPECULOOS Southern Observatory in Chile’s Atacama Desert to measure planetary signals at several wavelengths to verify the nature of the planet. Astronomers also observed the planet just before and after it disappeared behind its star and noticed no change in light, meaning the planet was emitting nothing. Finally, the team collaborated with a Japanese group using the Subaru Telescope in Hawaii. Together they measured the mass of the planet and fully confirmed it.
Tracking this star and identifying its planets was led by a group of PhD students within the SPECULOOS project.
“A hint of what might have happened is hidden in the properties of the planet, which appears to be particularly rich in heavy elements. Similar detections were made in the host star, suggesting that abundant heavy elements contribute to planet formation. It may have catalyzed the process.”
— Professor Amaury Triode, University of Birmingham
challenge established beliefs
George Dransfield, one of the PhD students who recently submitted his thesis to the University of Birmingham, explains:
“It was widely expected that massive planets like Jupiter would not form, because planets are built from their disks. But we were curious about this, and wanted to see if that was possible.” We wanted to check out the candidates: TOI-4860 is our first confirmation and the lowest mass star to host such a high-mass planet.”
Insights into planet formation
Amaury Triode, Professor of Exoplanetology at the University of Birmingham, who led the study, said: Their work really pays off, because planets like TOI-4860 are essential to our better understanding of planet formation.
“A hint of what might have happened is hidden in the properties of the planet, which appears to be particularly rich in heavy elements. Similar detections were made in the host star, suggesting that abundant heavy elements contribute to planet formation. It may have catalyzed the process.”
Features and further research
The new gas giant takes about 1.52 days to orbit its host star, which is a cool, low-mass star, so the planet itself can be called a “warm Jupiter.” This is a subclass of planets of particular interest to astronomers who want to learn more about how planets of this type form, based on initial observations.
Another student of the SPECULOOS project, Mathilde Timmermans, who works at the University of Liege in Belgium, concludes: “Thanks to its extremely short orbital period and host star properties, the discovery of TOI-4860 b will allow us to study the properties of warm Jupiter’s atmosphere and learn more about how gas giants form.”
Recently, the team won telescope time. very large telescopeChile, which we plan to use to confirm several more planets with similar properties.
Reference: “An M dwarf Included with a close-in huge orbiter with SPECULOOS” by Amaury HMJ Triaud, Georgina Dransfield, Taiki Kagetani, Mathilde Timmermans, Norio Narita, Khalid Barkaoui, TeryuHiHihirano, Benjamin V Rackham, Mayukomori, Thomas Baycroft, Zuhair Benkhardung, Adam J. Bergasser, Douglas A. Caldwell, Karen A. Collins, Yasmin T. Davies, Laetitia Dellez, Bryce Oliver Demory, Elsa Duclos, Akihiko Fukui, Claudia Janno Munoz , Emanuel Jehin, Lionel J. Garcia, Murad Gashui, Michael Giron, Ilen Gomez Macqueo Chu, Matthew J. Huton, Masahiro Ikoma, Kiyoe Kawauchi, Takayuki Kotani, Alan M. Levin, Enric Pare, Peter P. Pedersen, Francisco J. Pozuelos, Didier Queros, Owen J. Scutt, Sarah Seeger, Daniel Sebastian, Motohide Tamura, Samantha Thompson, Noriharu Watanabe, Julian De Witt, Joshua N Win, Sebastian Zuniga-Fernandez, 4 Aug 2023, Royal Astronomical Society Monthly Notice: Letter.
DOI: 10.1093/mnrasl/slad097