NASA Discovers a ‘Hot Neptune’ in a Tight Orbit
November 26, 2024
NASA’s Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS) has discovered a new exoplanet, TOI 197.01, a “hot Neptune” orbiting a Sun-like star every 14 hours. This discovery provides valuable insights into the formation and evolution of Neptune-like planets.
Discovery Details
TOI 197.01 was detected using the transit method, where astronomers observe a dip in the star’s brightness as the planet passes in front of it. The planet is estimated to be about 2.3 times the size of Earth, making it slightly larger than Neptune. It orbits its host star, TOI 197, at a distance of only 0.03 astronomical units (AU), which is about 12% of the distance between Earth and the Sun.
Hot Neptunes
Hot Neptunes are Neptune-like planets that orbit their host stars very closely, resulting in extremely high surface temperatures. TOI 197.01 is classified as a “hot Neptune” due to its proximity to its host star, which is expected to heat its atmosphere to over 1,000 degrees Celsius.
Implications for Formation and Evolution
The discovery of TOI 197.01 raises questions about the formation and evolution of Neptune-like planets. It’s believed that these planets initially form in the outer regions of their star systems, where icier materials are more abundant. However, it’s unclear how they migrate inward to become hot Neptunes.
One possible explanation is that TOI 197.01 was formed in a slightly more distant orbit and gradually migrated inward over time through interactions with other planets or the disk of debris surrounding the star. Another possibility is that the planet was captured from a nearby star system.
Future Studies
Further observations of TOI 197.01 and similar exoplanets are necessary to better understand their formation and evolution. Astronomers plan to study its atmosphere using spectroscopy to search for evidence of water vapor, methane, and other molecules. They also hope to obtain precise measurements of its mass and radius to refine our understanding of its interior structure.
Conclusion
The discovery of TOI 197.01 by NASA’s TESS mission is an exciting development in the study of exoplanets. This hot Neptune provides a valuable opportunity to investigate the formation and evolution of these enigmatic planets and potentially shed light on the origins of our own solar system.
Discovery Alert: a ‘Hot Neptune’ in a Tight Orbit
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NASA a new article on 2024-11-26 18:52 titled “Discovery Alert: a ‘Hot Neptune’ in a Tight Orbit”. Please write a detailed article on this news item, including any relevant information. Answers should be in English.
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