NASA’s TESS mission has revealed the discovery of two new super puffs, giant planets with extremely low density. The super puffs, designated TOI-791 b and TOI-791 c, are roughly the size of Jupiter but have a tiny fraction of its mass, making them the puffiest planets ever found.
The discovery was made using data from NASA’s TESS space telescope, which detected the shadows of the planets as they passed in front of their host star, TOI-791. The planets are locked in an orbital pattern that allows them to tug on each other gravitationally, affecting the timing of their transits across the host star.
What are Super Puffs?
Super puffs are a type of exoplanet that is characterized by their extremely low density. They are typically the size of Jupiter but have a mass that is only a fraction of Jupiter’s. This makes them very different from other gas giants, which are typically very dense.
The discovery of super puffs is significant because it challenges our current understanding of how planets form and evolve. Scientists believe that large planet formation drives the evolution of a planetary system, so further study of these Jupiter-size, but far less than Jupiter-mass, planets is of high value.
The Discovery of TOI-791 b and TOI-791 c
The discovery of TOI-791 b and TOI-791 c was made using data from NASA’s TESS space telescope. The telescope detected the shadows of the planets as they passed in front of their host star, TOI-791. The planets are locked in an orbital pattern that allows them to tug on each other gravitationally, affecting the timing of their transits across the host star.
The planets are roughly the size of Jupiter but have a mass that is only a fraction of Jupiter’s. TOI-791 b has a mass of 3.0 percent of Jupiter’s, while TOI-791 c has a mass of 5.9 percent of Jupiter’s. This makes them the puffiest planets ever found.
Implications of the Discovery
The discovery of super puffs has significant implications for our understanding of planetary formation and evolution. Scientists believe that large planet formation drives the evolution of a planetary system, so further study of these Jupiter-size, but far less than Jupiter-mass, planets is of high value.
The discovery also raises questions about how these planets formed and evolved. Scientists hope to learn more about the chemical makeup of the planets’ atmospheres, how their spin affects their shape, and how the tilt of their host star compares to their orbits.
- The discovery of super puffs challenges our current understanding of planetary formation and evolution.
- Super puffs are characterized by their extremely low density.
- The discovery of TOI-791 b and TOI-791 c was made using data from NASA’s TESS space telescope.
- The planets are locked in an orbital pattern that allows them to tug on each other gravitationally.
- Scientists hope to learn more about the chemical makeup of the planets’ atmospheres and how their spin affects their shape.
Future Research
Further research is needed to fully understand the implications of the discovery of super puffs. Scientists hope to learn more about the chemical makeup of the planets’ atmospheres, how their spin affects their shape, and how the tilt of their host star compares to their orbits.
The discovery of super puffs is an exciting development in the field of exoplanetary science, and further research is needed to fully understand the implications of this discovery. With continued study, we may uncover even more secrets about the formation and evolution of planetary systems.
Source: science.nasa.gov.
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