A team of astronomers found a unique, younger Earth-sized exoplanet, offering a valuable opportunity to study planetary evolution. The new planet is found orbiting a sun-like star about 73 light-years away and was discovered during follow-up observations confirming earlier findings by the Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS).
The study, titled "TESS Hunt for Young and Maturing Exoplanets (THYME). XI. An Earth-sized Planet Orbiting a Nearby, Solar-like Host in the 400 Myr Ursa Major Moving Group," detailing the new planet was published this week in The Astronomical Journal.
An Exoplanet Similar Yet Different From Earth
Astronomers have often detected Earth-sized planets orbiting red dwarf stars, but the recent discovery of HD 63433d marks a departure, orbiting a G-type main sequence star. This unique characteristic, combined with its proximity to the host star and tidal locking, presents an unprecedented opportunity for detailed observation and insights into the evolution of terrestrial worlds.
Despite significant differences with Earth, including extreme temperatures due to tidal locking, the planet's close orbit allows astronomers to investigate potential outgassing and atmospheric loss, contributing valuable data to the current understanding of planetary development.
Melinda Soares-Furtado, NASA Hubble Fellow at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and lead author of the study, explains the planet's significance in providing insights into early Earth conditions.
HD 63433d, despite its inhospitable environment for known life forms, serves as a valuable celestial laboratory for studying key aspects of planetary evolution. The findings underscore the potential of this distant yet Earth-sized world to deepen comprehension of cosmic processes.
The host star, HD 63433, further enhances the significance of this discovery, being only about 400 million years old and visible without powerful telescopes. Its relative youth, in contrast to the Sun, adds another layer of interest to the study, offering a glimpse into a star system's early stages.
The researchers believe that continued observation of HD 63433d and its host star could unlock further mysteries of planetary development and contribute to the broader field of astronomy.
THYME Project Discovers Mini-Neptune Planets
As part of the the TESS Hunt for Young and Maturing Exoplanets (THYME) project, a collaboration among the study's authors that focuses on planet-hunting, researchers researchers identified two mini-Neptune-sized planets encircling HD 63433. Subsequent observations by TESS, including four additional surveys, revealed HD 63433d's transits between the star and the satellite.
HD 63433d's unique positioning offers abundant opportunities for exploration. Its youthful star, visible from both hemispheres, allows various instruments, such as the South African Large Telescope or WIYN Observatory, to scrutinize the system. The star's proximity presents a rare chance to develop innovative methods for studying gas emissions or measuring the planet's magnetic field.
The researchers, including UW-Madison collaborators like graduate student Andrew C. Nine, undergraduate Alyssa Jankowski, and astronomy professor Juliette Becker, anticipate gaining valuable insights from HD 63433d.
With this celestial laboratory in Earth's "solar backyard," as described by Soares-Furtado, there's excitement about unraveling the information a nearby star with a complex system might unveil for future planet-hunting endeavors.
RELATED ARTICLE: NASA's TESS Discovered New Earth-size Exoplanet Orbiting Within the Habitable Zone of Its Star
Check out more news and information on Space in Science Times.
