Giant Exoplanet Discovered Thanks to Citizen Science

A giant planet , larger than Jupiter and 400 light years away, has been discovered outside the Solar System. The result is due to citizen science , that is, the collaboration of ordinary citizens . The planet, called TOI-4465 b , is described in The Astronomical Journal and the research was led by Zahra Essack, of the University of New Mexico. It was made possible by Unistellar, a collaborative network that brings together enthusiasts from all over the world.

Observed for the first time by NASA's TESS (Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite) space telescope , the planet was glimpsed during a brief transit in front of its star. The data showed a slight decrease in the star's brightness, a sign of the passage of a large planet.

To confirm this, new observations were needed, although the data indicated that the transit of this new planet would be difficult to capture again because it is visible only 3 times a year .

“The observation windows are extremely limited. Each transit lasts about 12 hours , but it is incredibly rare to get a full 12 hours of clear, dark skies in one place,” Essack said. “Furthermore, the difficulty of observing the transit is compounded by weather conditions , telescope availability , and the need for continuous coverage.”

The difficulties were overcome thanks to citizen science, with the Unistellar network involving 24 private citizens in 10 countries who used their personal telescopes to observe the next transit. Their contributions provided crucial observations that complemented data from professional observatories to better define the new planet. It was thus possible to discover that TOI-4465 b is a gas giant exoplanet with a radius about 25% larger than Jupiter , a mass almost six times greater and a density almost three times greater . It has a slightly elliptical orbit , with temperatures between 100 and 200 degrees C , and is a rare example of a large, massive, dense and temperate giant planet.