Exploring Dual-Star Systems: The Fascinating TOI-1338 Discovery
Written on
Chapter 1: The Enigma of Dual-Star Systems
Recent discoveries have unveiled the second known system of circumbinary planets, reminiscent of the fictional planet Tatooine. These celestial bodies orbit not one, but two stars, allowing observers on their surfaces to witness two sunrises and sunsets.
The traditional solar system comprises a single sun at its core, encircled by eight planets. However, alternative configurations, such as systems with dual stars, also exist. One notable example is TOI-1338, located approximately 1,320 light-years from Earth within the Painter constellation (which is not visible from Poland). This system's center features two stars: a yellow-white dwarf slightly larger than our Sun and a red dwarf that is one-third the mass of the Sun. These stars complete an orbit around each other every 14.6 days.
Notably, at least two planets revolve around this dual-star system. Their existence was uncovered serendipitously, as detailed in a recent paper published in Nature Astronomy.
Section 1.1: The Discovery of TOI-1338b
In the summer of 2019, a remarkable discovery was made by Wolf Cukier, a 17-year-old intern at the Robert H. Goddard Space Flight Center. While analyzing brightness curves of binary stars selected by the Planet Hunters citizen science initiative, he stumbled upon a previously unknown planet within the TOI-1338 system. His discovery, achieved during his third day of internship, later contributed to a scientific publication in The Astronomical Journal. This planet, named TOI-1338b, is among a select few circumbinary planets recognized at the time. Today, Cukier is a student at Princeton University.
Subsection 1.1.1: Unraveling the Mass of TOI-1338b
The planet's discovery utilized the transit method, which helped in determining its size but did not provide insights into its mass. Dr. Matthew Standing from the University of Birmingham emphasized the importance of mass as a crucial parameter for planetary characterization. Consequently, researchers opted for a different approach by employing the Doppler effect to ascertain the planet's mass. As a planet orbits a star, both entities move around their common center of gravity. This motion can be detected by observing changes in the star's radial velocity relative to Earth, manifesting as a redshift in its light spectrum.
To achieve accurate measurements, researchers utilized two telescopes located in the Atacama Desert. However, their efforts faced setbacks, including interruptions due to the pandemic, leaving the mass of TOI-1338b still unknown. Despite this, the research led to the discovery of an additional planet within the TOI-1338 system.
Section 1.2: The Newly Discovered Planet BEBOP-1c
David Martin, an astronomer at Ohio State University and co-author of the discovery, stated, “We know of only 12 circumstellar systems, and this is only the second one with more than one planet orbiting around the stars.” The newly identified planet, dubbed BEBOP-1c (which stands for Binaries Escorted By Orbiting Planets), boasts an orbital period of 215 days and is 65 times the mass of Earth. Remarkably, scientists have succeeded in determining BEBOP-1c's mass, although its size remains uncertain.
There is a possibility that additional planets exist in the TOI-1338 system, awaiting further observations by scientists. Circumbinary planetary systems are exceptionally rare, heightening their significance for astronomers.
Chapter 2: The Mysteries of Rocky Planets
Rocky planets similar to Earth are prevalent in the universe. However, their detection proves challenging due to various factors.
Discover the intriguing worlds that orbit dual suns, akin to Tatooine, in this informative video.
Learn about the discovery of Kepler-16b, a planet with two suns, and its connection to the Star Wars universe.
Thank you for your interest! If you found this content engaging, please consider showing your support through a clap, donation, or tip. Your generosity enables the creation of more valuable content.
