Citizen Scientists Help Confirm Distant Exoplanet
10 months ago
- #exoplanet
- #citizen science
- #astronomy
- Astronomers discovered TOI-4465 b, a gas giant exoplanet 400 light-years from Earth.
- TOI-4465 b has a 102-day orbit and takes 12 hours to transit its star.
- Initial observations by TESS required multiple transits to confirm the planet's existence.
- Observation windows are limited to three per year, each lasting about 12 hours.
- TOI-4465 b is 25% larger than Jupiter with six times its mass and moderate temperatures (375–478 K).
- The planet's orbit bridges the gap between hot Jupiters and cold Jupiters like our own.
- Citizen scientists worldwide contributed to confirming TOI-4465 b's transit.
- Programs like TFOP SG1, Unistellar Citizen Science Network, and TSTPC Working Group facilitated the discovery.
- Citizen science plays a crucial role in astronomical research, extending observation capabilities.
- The discovery highlights the importance of global collaboration in astronomy.