A giant, sizzling planet may be orbiting the star Vega
Researchers have found a curious signal that could be the first known world around Vega. The alien planet would orbit close to Vega and rank as the second hottest world known to science.
Planetary Astronomy
Articles tagged with Planetary Astronomy
Earth has a hot new neighbour -- and it's an astronomer's dream
A newly discovered rocky planet, Gliese 486b, has been found to have a 'piping-hot' surface temperature of 430 degrees Celsius, making it inhospitable to human life. However, studying its atmosphere could provide valuable insights into the possibility of habitable planets and signs of life beyond Earth.
MAROON-X embarks on its exoplanet quest
The team has determined the mass of a rocky planet around the nearby star Gliese 486 using MAROON-X's spectrometer. The exoplanet, called Gliese 486 b, is roughly three times the mass of Earth and has a similar density.
Vaporised crusts of Earth-like planets found in dying stars
University of Warwick astronomers detect lithium and potassium in the atmospheres of four nearby white dwarf stars, revealing remnants of rocky planet crusts. The chemical composition of these crusts is similar to Earth's continental crust, providing a glimpse of the planets that may have orbited these dying stars billions of years ago.
Exoplanet around distant star resembles reputed 'Planet Nine' in our solar system
Astronomers have confirmed an exoplanet, HD 106906 b, with a highly eccentric orbit around its binary star, similar to the hypothetical Planet Nine. The planet's orbit is likely bound, and its presence suggests that distant planets can form within the first tens of millions of years of a star's life.
Rapid-forming giants could disrupt spiral protoplanetary discs
Researchers found that massive planets can wipe out spiral structures in young protoplanetary discs. This suggests that planets may form rapidly and early in the disc's lifecycle, requiring scientists to reassess formation times.
An Earth-sized rogue planet discovered in the Milky Way
Astronomers detect tiny free-floating planet with timescale of just 42 minutes, shedding light on turbulent past of young planetary systems. The discovery demonstrates that low-mass free-floating planets can be detected and characterized using ground-based telescopes.
SourceUniversity of Warsaw, Faculty of Physics·JournalThe Astrophysical Journal Letters·DateOct 29, 2020
Astronomers discover activity on distant planetary object
Researchers at Northern Arizona University have discovered activity on the Centaur 2014 OG392, a minor planet in the outer solar system. The discovery led to its reclassification as a comet, C/2014 OG392 (PANSTARRS), due to the presence of a coma and sublimation processes indicating the presence of carbon dioxide or ammonia.
Smile, wave: Some exoplanets may be able to see us, too
Astronomers have identified 1,004 main-sequence stars that might contain Earth-like planets in their habitable zones, all within 300 light-years of Earth. These exoplanets could detect signs of a biosphere in Earth's atmosphere.
Astronomers discover an Earth-sized "pi planet" with a 3.14-day orbit
Astronomers have discovered an Earth-sized 'pi planet' called K2-315b, which orbits its star every 3.14 days and has a surface temperature of around 350 degrees Fahrenheit, making it unlikely to support life.
KU astronomer helps confirm first-ever planet found orbiting white dwarf
The discovery of WD 1856 b, a Jupiter-sized planet orbiting a white dwarf every 34 hours, shows the likely presence of planets around these star remnants. The finding was made possible by NASA's TESS Space Telescope and Spitzer Space Telescope data.
ALMA discovers misaligned rings in planet-forming disk around triple stars
Two teams of astronomers used ALMA to discover a misaligned ring system in the planet-forming disk of GW Orionis, a triple star system. The findings suggest that either gravitational pull from the stars or a newborn planet caused the misalignment, highlighting the complex processes involved in planetary formation.
Fifty new planets confirmed in machine learning first
A new machine learning algorithm confirms 50 new exoplanets, ranging from Neptunes to Earth-sized worlds, by distinguishing between real and false positives. The technique outperforms previous methods, can be automated, and improves with further training.
SourceUniversity of Warwick·JournalMonthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society·DateAug 25, 2020
Cool new worlds found in our cosmic backyard
Astronomers using NSF's NOIRLab facilities and citizen science project Backyard Worlds have discovered approximately 100 cool brown dwarfs near the Sun, with several of these worlds approaching Earth's temperature. These discoveries provide new insights into the formation and atmospheres of planets beyond our Solar System.
Plavchan and collaborators studying newly discovered planet
Scientists are using a High Resolution Echelle Spectrometer (HIRES) and iSHELL/IRTF to observe the newly discovered planet AU Mic, aiming to disentangle its radial velocity signal from stellar activity. This will allow for precise calculations of the planet's orbital parameters and mass.
'Lost' world's rediscovery is step towards finding habitable planets
Astronomers have discovered a lost planet, NGTS-11b, which orbits a star 620 light years away and is located five times closer to its sun than Earth. The discovery brings astronomers closer to finding cooler planets in the habitable 'Goldilocks zone' that can support liquid water.
First measurement of spin-orbit alignment on planet Beta Pictoris b
Researchers successfully measured the spin-orbit alignment for the first time in a directly-imaged planetary system. The study reveals that the Beta Pictoris system is as well-aligned as our own solar system, favoring planet-planet scattering as the cause of orbit obliquities.
'Infant' planet discovered by UH astronomers, Maunakea telescope
Astronomers have discovered an infant planet, AU Mic b, orbiting a 25-million-year-old star in the solar system. The planet, about the size of Neptune, takes only eight and a half days to complete one orbit around its host star, AU Microscopii.
Paired with super telescopes, model Earths guide hunt for life
Cornell University astronomers created five models representing key points in Earth's evolution to aid the search for exo-Earths. These templates enable the identification of potential biospheres on distant planets with characteristics similar to our own, using powerful telescopes like NASA's James Webb Space Telescope.
18-hour year planet on edge of destruction
Astronomers have discovered an exoplanet orbiting a star in just over 18 hours, the shortest orbital period ever recorded. The hot Jupiter, NGTS-10b, is perilously close to its sun and may be spiralling towards destruction.
SourceUniversity of Warwick·JournalMonthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society·DateFeb 20, 2020
Looking for aliens who might be looking for us
Astronomers led by Penn State graduate student Sofia Sheikh conducted a massive survey of radio emissions from 20 nearby stars, looking for technological signatures of extraterrestrial civilizations. Despite finding no technosignatures, the analysis sets rigorous limits on the presence of advanced civilizations in our galaxy.
SDSU astronomers pinpoint two new 'Tatooine' planetary systems
Researchers at San Diego State University have discovered two new planetary systems similar to Tatooine from Star Wars, including TOI-1338 b and KOI-3152 b. These circumbinary planets were found using NASA's TESS mission data and provide insight into the population of such systems.
Hidden giant planet revealed around tiny white dwarf star
Astronomers have found evidence of a giant planet surrounding a small, dead white dwarf star, providing insight into the evolution of our own solar system. The discovery suggests that many other planets may be hiding in similar extreme environments.
Gas giant composition not determined by host star
Researchers find no correlation between a gas giant planet's composition and its host star's heavy element content, contradicting previous theories on planetary formation. The authors suggest other factors, such as location in the disk or distance from neighbors, may be contributing to this discrepancy.
NASA's TESS helps astronomers study red-giant stars, examine a too-close planet
Astronomers used TESS data to study two red-giant stars, one of which has a planet that shouldn't have survived its host star's expansion. The team found the planet's orbit may have been disrupted by the star's tidal forces, leading to an interesting case of planetary evolution.
Numerous polar storms on Saturn analyzed by the UPV/EHU's Planetary Sciences Group
Researchers have discovered a complex storm system in Saturn's north polar atmosphere, with features suggesting they are caused by convection in deep water clouds. The storms were found to be long-lived and high-intensity, unlike those on Earth, and appear to have formed at a rate of one every 30-60 years.
Gas 'waterfalls' reveal infant planets around young star
Researchers observed unique gas flows and identified three predicted planets around young star HD 163296. The gas flows, like waterfalls, indicate the presence of infant planets pushing aside dust and gas, providing evidence for planet formation. The study offers a more complete picture of planet formation than previously thought.
Canadian astronomers determine Earth's fingerprint
Two McGill University astronomers have assembled a transit spectrum of Earth, a fingerprint of the planet's atmosphere in infrared light. This detection could help scientists identify planets capable of supporting life, such as TRAPPIST-1 system with seven habitable zone planets.
Newly discovered giant planet slingshots around its star
Astronomers have discovered a massive planet three times the size of Jupiter that orbits its star on an egg-shaped path. The planet's unique orbit takes it from within our asteroid belt to beyond Neptune, providing a rare opportunity for scientists to study extreme planetary configurations.
A second planet in the Beta Pictoris system
A team of astronomers has discovered a second giant planet, β Pictoris c, in the Beta Pictoris system. The exoplanet has a mass nine times that of Jupiter and completes its orbit in approximately 1,200 days. This detection marks the first time a planet has been found around a star like β Pictoris using the radial velocity method.
James Webb Space Telescope could begin learning about TRAPPIST-1 atmospheres in a year
Astronomers have developed a model showing the James Webb Space Telescope can detect the atmospheres of all seven TRAPPIST-1 planets in just 10 transits or fewer, even with cloud cover. The telescope's Near-Infrared Spectrograph will help identify gas spectral fingerprints to determine atmosphere composition.
Dead planets can 'broadcast' for up to a billion years
Scientists have identified the best candidate white dwarfs to hunt for exoplanet cores, which can survive for over 100 million to a billion years. The researchers plan to use radio telescopes to detect radio waves emitted by the cores, potentially leading to breakthrough discoveries.
SourceUniversity of Warwick·JournalMonthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society·DateAug 6, 2019
'Moon-forming' circumplanetary disk discovered in distant star system
Astronomers have made the first-ever observations of a circumplanetary disk around PDS 70, a young star located 370 light-years from Earth. The ALMA data provide compelling evidence for the existence of multiple moons in the system, with two Jupiter-like planets and a potential third planet on its own orbit.
SourceNational Radio Astronomy Observatory·JournalThe Astrophysical Journal Letters·DateJul 11, 2019
Moon-forming disk discovered around distant planet
Astronomers have detected a circumplanetary disk of gas and dust around the young gas giant PDS 70 c, 370 light years from Earth. The discovery provides direct evidence of planet formation and challenges current theories.
ALMA pinpoints the formation site of planet around nearest young star
Researchers using ALMA pinpointed a small dust concentration in the disk around TW Hydrae, suggesting a potential planet formation site. The discovery provides valuable insights into the process of planet formation and may help identify the final stage of planetary growth.
SourceNational Institutes of Natural Sciences·JournalThe Astrophysical Journal Letters·DateJun 26, 2019
Direct from distant planet: Spectral clues to puzzling paradox
New research analyzes light from CI Tau b, a close-orbiting giant exoplanet, to determine its mass and brightness. The study provides strong evidence for the 'hot start' theory of planet formation, challenging traditional models.
SwRI's Singer wins Urey Prize for planetary research
Dr. Kelsi Singer has been awarded the 2019 Harold C. Urey Prize for her outstanding contributions to planetary research, particularly in impact cratering and the geology of icy worlds. Her work has revealed insights into the collisional history of the Kuiper Belt and planetesimal formation.
The 'forbidden' planet has been found in the 'Neptunian Desert'
A Neptunian planet, NGTS-4b, discovered using the Next-Generation Transit Survey (NGTS) facility, is a small world 20% smaller than Neptune, orbiting its star in just 1.3 days. It has been nicknamed 'The Forbidden Planet' due to its extreme temperatures of 1,000 degrees Celsius.
SourceUniversity of Warwick·JournalMonthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society·DateMay 28, 2019
Small, hardy planets most likely to survive death of their stars
Astrophysicists from the University of Warwick have modelled the chances of different planets being destroyed by tidal forces when their host stars become white dwarfs. Small, hardy planets packed with dense elements are most likely to survive and reside just outside of the destruction radius.
SourceUniversity of Warwick·JournalMonthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society·DateMay 14, 2019
Our history in the stars
Researchers mapped aluminum monoxide around a distant young star, clarifying details about our solar system's formation. The findings suggest that AlO gas rapidly condenses into solid grains, similar to calcium and aluminum-rich inclusions found in asteroids.
Gravitational forces in protoplanetary disks may push super-Earths close to their stars
Researchers at Penn State have found that gravitational forces within protoplanetary disks can cause super-Earths to migrate closer to their host star. This simulation shows that chaotic interactions among planets and the gas disk can lead to synchronized orbits, resulting in super-Earths being pushed towards the star.
Astronomers discover third planet in the Kepler-47 circumbinary system
The discovery of Kepler-47d, the third planet in the Kepler-47 circumbinary system, sheds light on the formation and composition of low-density planets. The new planet's size and location were unexpected, with it being the largest of the three planets in the system.
TESS finds its first Earth-sized planet
The discovery of an Earth-sized planet and a warm sub-Neptune-sized world in the HD 21749 system marks a significant milestone for NASA's TESS mission. The planets have distinct orbital periods, with the sub-Neptune taking 36 days to complete its orbit.
The case of the over-tilting exoplanets
Researchers propose that obliquity is a key factor in the formation of pairs of over-tilting exoplanets, leading to extreme seasons and weather patterns. The study could have significant implications for estimating the structure, climate, and habitability of these planets.
More support for Planet Nine
New analysis offers insights into the nature of Planet Nine, estimating its mass as five times that of Earth and orbital semimajor axis of approximately 400 AU. The findings suggest that Planet Nine is likely to be reminiscent of a typical extrasolar super-Earth.
Penn State's Habitable Zone Planet Finder enables discovery of planets around cool stars
The Habitable Zone Planet Finder enables precise measurement of a star's radial velocity, allowing detection of planets capable of having liquid water on their surfaces. The instrument uses near-infrared light to observe low-mass planets around cool nearby M dwarf stars in Habitable Zones.
Double star system flips planet-forming disk into pole position
Researchers discovered a double star system with a planet-forming disc that orbits at right angles to the binary star orbit, challenging traditional theories. The finding suggests that misaligned circumbinary planets may exist and could have unique seasonal variations.
Baby star's fiery tantrum could create the building blocks of planets
A massive stellar flare on a baby star has been spotted by University of Warwick astronomers, revealing how it could create the building blocks for future planets. The flare's x-rays are thought to affect the formation of chondrules, flash-melted calcium-aluminium-rich grains that eventually coalesce into orbiting planets.
SourceUniversity of Warwick·JournalMonthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society·DateDec 21, 2018
Hubble finds far-away planet vanishing at record speed
Researchers using NASA's Hubble Space Telescope have discovered a medium-sized exoplanet, GJ 3470b, losing mass at a rate 100 times faster than similar planets. The study advances knowledge of planetary evolution and suggests that half of the planet may be gone in a few billion years.
UNLV study unlocks clues to how planets form
A team of UNLV and international astronomers has conducted the first large-sample survey of protoplanetary disks using ALMA, yielding high-resolution images of 20 nearby disks. The results reveal a large population of young planets at wide-orbit similar to Neptune or Jupiter, which may be similar to our solar system
The epoch of planet formation, times 20
Researchers have discovered that large planets form quickly and in the outer reaches of their solar systems, which could explain the formation of rocky Earth-size worlds. High-resolution images of 20 nearby protoplanetary disks show common substructures, including concentric gaps and narrow rings.
SourceNational Radio Astronomy Observatory·JournalThe Astrophysical Journal Letters·DateDec 12, 2018
Unknown treasure trove of planets found hiding in dust
A recent study found that 40% of protoplanetary disks surrounding young stars in the Taurus region have ring structures suggesting nascent planets. These findings coincide with exoplanet statistics, supporting the idea that super-Earths and Neptunes are the most common type of planets.
Exoplanet stepping stones
Scientists at the W.M. Keck Observatory have made robust data on a young giant gas planet, confirming its water composition and lack of methane. The team is perfecting their technique using advanced instrumentation to study giant planets and prepare for future searches for life on Earth-like exoplanets.
Cold Super-Earth found orbiting second-closest star system to our own
Astronomers at Carnegie Institution for Science have discovered a frozen Super-Earth orbiting Barnard's star, just six light-years from Earth. The planet has at least 3.2 times Earth's mass and orbits its star every 233 days at a distance where water would be frozen.
Super-Earth orbiting Barnard's Star
Astronomers detect a super-Earth orbiting Barnard's Star, with the planet having a mass at least 3.2 times that of Earth, and orbits its host star in roughly 233 days. The exoplanet lies close to the snow line, making it inhospitable for life as we know it.
Double dust ring test could spot migrating planets
A team led by Dr Farzana Meru of the University of Warwick has developed a way to detect planet migration in protoplanetary discs using ALMA observations. By analyzing the particle size in two dust rings, astronomers can determine if a planet is migrating within the disc.
SourceUniversity of Warwick·JournalMonthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society·DateOct 17, 2018
What recipes produce a habitable planet?
A cross-disciplinary team led by Rice University will investigate the formation of life-essential elements in rocky planets during their early evolution. The CLEVER Planets project aims to understand how these elements survive turbulent periods and ultimately lead to habitability, with a focus on rocky worlds beyond our solar system.
Astronomers find a famous exoplanet's doppelganger
Scientists have found a new exoplanet, 2MASS 0249 c, that is nearly identical to the well-studied gas-giant planet beta Pictoris b. The two planets share similar mass, brightness, and spectrum but differ in their formation environments, with one orbiting a bright star and the other a pair of faint brown dwarfs.
Study reveals secret origins of asteroids and meteorites
A new study found that most asteroids in the inner asteroid belt originate from five or six ancient minor planets, with at least 85% of them tracing their origins to these primordial bodies. This discovery provides a more robust understanding of the evolutionary history of asteroids and the materials that form them.
New IR instrument searches for habitable planets
Researchers have developed a new IR instrument to search for potentially habitable planets around small red dwarf stars. The instrument, IRD, uses advanced technology to measure the line-of-sight movement of stars and detect planets with high accuracy.