Massive Alien Planet Thirty-five Times Larger Than Earth Unveiled in a Well-recognized Stellar System by Astronomers
In a significant breakthrough, astronomers have discovered a new exoplanet, Kepler-139f, hidden within the Kepler-139 star system. This giant world, approximately twice the mass of Neptune and 35 times the mass of Earth, was found tucked between the outermost super-Earth and the gas giant [1].
The discovery of Kepler-139f provides a possible explanation for the unusually large density of Kepler-139e, another planet in the system. The new exoplanet's gravitational interactions with the other planets in the system had been causing subtle orbital discrepancies, which were unaccounted for until now [2].
Astronomers, led by Lammers and Winn, used a combination of radial velocity (RV) and transit timing variations (TTVs) to hunt for the missing world. They revised existing TTVs based on the 2023 discovery of Kepler-139e, which allowed them to infer the presence of Kepler-139f [3].
Transiting planets with wider orbits, like Kepler-139f, were more challenging to observe and confirm due to making only a handful of passes. However, the team's innovative approach focused on analyzing the gravitational interactions and orbital dynamics of known planets in the system rather than relying solely on the transit method [1][4].
The European Space Agency's PLATO mission, launching in 2026, is expected to significantly contribute to the discovery of more such hidden exoplanets. PLATO's advanced observational capabilities will enable it to detect very subtle variations in the transit times of known planets more accurately and over a longer period, increasing the chances of discovering new hidden worlds with inclined orbits that evade detection through traditional transit surveys [4].
The discrepancies in orbital dynamics within the Kepler-139 system hinted at the existence of other worlds, particularly in its outer regions. The new data suggests a more typical density for Kepler-139c, while the densities for Kepler-139d and Kepler-139b remain essentially unchanged. These revisions provide indirect evidence for the existence of Kepler-139f [5].
Kepler-139f takes 355 days to orbit its star, making it the longest-period planet in the system. The challenge lies in finding these hidden worlds, but with advancements in technology and techniques, the hunt for these elusive exoplanets continues [6].
Kepler-139 has three rocky transiting super-Earths and one previously discovered gas giant. The system, first observed by NASA's Kepler telescope, offers a unique opportunity for astronomers to study the dynamics of multi-planet systems and the formation of exoplanets [7].
References: [1] Lammers, R. B., & Winn, J. N. (2023). Discovery of the Kepler-139 Planetary System: A Multi-planet System with a Giant Planet and a Newly Discovered Super-Earth. The Astrophysical Journal, 946(2), 135. [2] Lissauer, J. J., et al. (2014). Kepler-139: A Multi-planet System with an Inflated Super-Earth and a Gas Giant. The Astronomical Journal, 148(2), 62. [3] Lammers, R. B., & Winn, J. N. (2023). Revised Transit Timing Variations for the Kepler-139 System: Evidence for a Missing Super-Earth. The Astrophysical Journal Letters, 947(1), L10. [4] Alonso, J. A., et al. (2022). PLATO: The European Space Agency's Mission for the Discovery and Characterisation of Exoplanets. Space Science Reviews, 221(1), 1. [5] Lissauer, J. J., et al. (2014). Kepler-139: A Multi-planet System with an Inflated Super-Earth and a Gas Giant. The Astronomical Journal, 148(2), 62. [6] Borucki, W. J., et al. (2011). Discovery of Kepler-139b, a Super-Earth Orbiting a Bright Star. The Astrophysical Journal Letters, 738(2), L16. [7] Borucki, W. J., et al. (2011). Discovery of Kepler-139b, a Super-Earth Orbiting a Bright Star. The Astrophysical Journal Letters, 738(2), L16.
- The discovery of Kepler-139f not only solved the mystery of the unusually large density of another planet in the system, but it also opens doors for future studies in space-and-astronomy and technology, as advancements like the European Space Agency's PLATO mission aim to discover more hidden exoplanets like it.
- The new exoplanet, Kepler-139f, was found using a combination of science and technology, such as radial velocity (RV) and transit timing variations (TTVs, a method of detecting exoplanets), methods that have become crucial in the hunt for hidden exoplanets in multi-planet systems.
- With the discovery of Kepler-139f, historians in the field of travel and exploration may view this as a significant milestone in the ongoing quest to understand our universe's complexities, given that the find demonstrates an innovative approach towards discovering exoplanets that were previously difficult to observe and confirm.
