New giant exoplanet discovered 400 light years from Earth, with many strange features

A unique gas giant planet has been confirmed through a global collaborative effort, providing new insights into planet formation and paving the way for future atmospheric research.

 

Accordingly, researchers from the University of New Mexico (USA), along with many freelance astronomers around the world, have officially confirmed the existence of a newly discovered gas giant exoplanet. Named TOI-4465 b, this is a gas giant exoplanet located about 400 light-years from Earth. NASA's Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS) first discovered this planet during what is believed to be a single-transit event - a short period of time when the planet passes in front of its host star. To verify the discovery, astronomers need to observe a second transit, a rare event that only occurs every 102 days (about three times a year).

' The observation window is extremely limited. Each transit lasts around 12 hours, but getting a full 12 hours of clear, dark skies at one location is extremely rare ,' explains Dr Zahra Essack, lead author of the study. ' The difficulty of observing transits is compounded by weather, telescope availability and the need for constant monitoring .'

To meet the challenge of capturing a rare transit, the team organized a large-scale international observation effort involving 14 countries. The initiative brought together 24 freelance scientists from different regions around the world, who used their own telescopes to collect crucial observations during the predicted transit time window. The resulting data were essential in complementing and enhancing the information gathered by professional observatories.

 

The discovery and confirmation of TOI-4465 b not only expands our understanding of planets in the far reaches of other star systems, but also demonstrates how astronomy enthusiasts can play a direct role in cutting-edge scientific research. It is a great example of the power of citizen science, teamwork, and the importance of global collaboration in astronomy.

In addition to contributions from amateur astronomers, professional researchers and students also provided additional spectroscopic data. These measurements, taken at prestigious observatories, tracked changes in the brightness of the host star as the planet passed in front of it, helping to further confirm the existence of the exoplanet.

A giant, dense and temperate world

TOI-4465 b is a gas giant exoplanet with a radius about 25% larger than Jupiter, nearly 6 times Jupiter's mass, and nearly 3 times the density. The planet has a slightly elliptical orbit, resulting in a temperature range of 375–478 K (about 200–400°F). TOI-4465 b is a rare example of a giant planet with a large size, high mass, high density, and moderate temperature, and is located in a relatively unexplored region of planetary size and mass.

Long-period gas giants like TOI-4465 b may act as a bridge between the extreme hot Jupiters — which orbit very close to their host stars — and the cold gas giants in our own Solar System.

This discovery is important because long-period exoplanets (defined as those with orbital periods longer than 100 days) are difficult to detect and confirm due to limited observational opportunities and resources. Studying these long-period planets gives us insight into how planetary systems form and evolve under more temperate conditions.

TOI-4465 b's large size and cool temperature make it a strong candidate for future atmospheric studies using telescopes such as the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST). It is among the best long-period exoplanets available for emission spectroscopy studies, which could reveal key details about its atmosphere.