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Gigantic Planet Six Times Jupiter's Mass Found Near Universe's Hottest Star
- •Scientists discovered a new planet, HD 156295 b, near the universe's hottest star, HD 156295, located 140 light-years from Earth.
- •The planet is approximately six times heavier than Jupiter and orbits its star in about 2200 days.
- •HD 156295 is an A-type star, nine times brighter and several thousand degrees hotter than our Sun, with a temperature of approximately 7500 degrees Celsius.
- •The planet orbits its star at about 4 astronomical units, placing it within the habitable zone, though it is a giant gas sphere.
- •The discovery was made using data from NASA's TESS space telescope and a complex pulsation timing technique.
Key Questions Answered
Named HD 156295 b, this gigantic planet is about six times heavier than Jupiter and orbits its scorching host star from a distance of approximately four astronomical units. It takes about 2,200 days to complete one orbit and is located roughly 140 light-years away from Earth.
Researchers used a complex technique called pulsation timing by examining data from Delta Scuti stars observed by NASA's TESS telescope. They tracked tiny timing differences in the star's regular pulsation light caused by the gravitational wobble of the orbiting planet.
The planet falls within the star's habitable zone regarding temperature because it orbits far away, but it is a giant gas sphere lacking a solid surface, making surface life unlikely. However, scientists do not completely rule out the possibility of exotic life thriving on one of its icy moons.
