An international team of astronomers has announced a significant discovery in the field of exoplanet research: the detection of a new exoplanet designated TOI-6038 A b. This planet orbits a bright late F-type star located approximately 578 light-years away from Earth.
Overview of TOI-6038 A b
TOI-6038 A b is remarkable in several respects. Its dimensions are astonishing; the exoplanet is about six times larger than Earth and nearly 80 times more massive, which raises interesting questions about its composition, formation, and atmospheric properties. The discovery is detailed in a paper published on January 4, 2025, on the arXiv preprint server.
The Role of NASA's TESS in the Discovery
The Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS), a NASA-led mission, plays a crucial role in locating exoplanets. TESS surveys approximately 200,000 of the brightest stars near the sun to identify candidates that may host transiting exoplanets. So far, TESS has identified nearly 7,400 candidate exoplanets, known as TESS Objects of Interest (TOI), and has confirmed 591 of these.
Sanjay Baliwal from the Physical Research Laboratory (PRL) in Ahmedabad, India, led the research team confirming TOI-6038 A b. The team identified a transit signal in the star's light curve, confirming its planetary nature through extensive follow-up observations with the 2.5-meter telescope located at PRL Observatory.
Transit Observations
| Observation Sector | Observation Dates |
|---|---|
| Sector 18 (S18) | November 3 - November 27, 2019 |
| Sector 58 (S58) | October 29 - November 26, 2022 |
Characteristics and Composition of TOI-6038 A b
Measurements derived from the observations indicate that TOI-6038 A b has a radius of approximately 6.41 times that of Earth and a mass estimated at 78.5 Earth masses. This gives the planet an impressive bulk density of about 1.62 grams per cubic centimeter, showcasing its unique characteristics compared to known exoplanets.
TOI-6038 A b completes an orbit around its host star in a relatively short 5.83 days, with a distance of approximately 0.069 AU from the star. The equilibrium temperature of the planet has been calculated to be 1,439 Kelvin.
Internal Structure and Composition
According to internal structure modeling conducted by the research team, TOI-6038 A b is inferred to have a substantial core weighing about 58 Earth masses. This core is chiefly composed of dense materials, such as rock and iron, which make up around 74% of the planet's total mass. The remaining mass is believed to consist of a modest hydrogen/helium envelope, indicating a thin atmosphere.
Context Within Exoplanetary Research
TOI-6038 A b belongs to a class of planets often referred to as sub-Saturns, positioned at the boundary between the Neptunian ridge and the so-called “savanna” of exoplanets. The Neptunian desert generally reflects the absence of Neptune-like exoplanets within a particular period and distance from their respective host stars, while the savanna denotes where these exoplanets can be instead located at larger distances.
Details of the Parent Star
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Radius (solar radii) | 0.9 |
| Mass (solar masses) | 0.86 |
| Age (billion years) | 3.65 |
| Effective Temperature (K) | 6,110 |
| Metallicity (dex) | 0.124 |
Conclusion and Implications for Future Research
The discovery of TOI-6038 A b paves the way for a better understanding of the characteristics and dynamics of planets in the sub-Saturn category. It highlights the ongoing advancements in observational technologies and methodologies in exoplanet research. Further studies of TOI-6038 A b will likely enhance our comprehension of planetary formation processes and atmospheric dynamics in various exoplanetary systems.
For More Information
For further reading about the research and implications of the discovery of TOI-6038 A b, reference the following articles:
- TOI-6038 A b: A dense sub-Saturn in the transition regime between the Neptunian ridge and savanna
- Astronomers discover a new dense sub-Saturn exoplanet
- Quantum engineers create a 'Schrödinger's cat' inside a silicon chip
This discovery is a testament to the advancements in the field of astronomy and the fruitful collaboration among researchers worldwide. TOI-6038 A b is not only a valuable addition to our catalog of known exoplanets but also a subject of intrigue for astrophysicists studying the formation and evolution of planetary systems.
