Indian researchers discover new exoplanet TOI-6038A b

[Ajay0]

The scientists of the Physical Research Laboratory (PRL), Ahmedabad, India have discovered a new exoplanet, TOI-6038A b, a dense sub-Saturn size with a mass of 78.5 Earth masses and a radius of 6.41 Earth radii in a wide binary system. 

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Indian researchers have discovered a dense sub-Saturn exoplanet, TOI-6038A b, which is 78.5 times the mass of Earth. This exoplanet orbits a bright, metal-rich F-type star every 5.83 days. The detection, involving PARAS-2 spectrograph, provides valuable insights into planetary formation and evolution, highlighting India's advancements in astronomical instrumentation.

This marks the second exoplanet detection achieved using the advanced PARAS-2 spectrograph mounted on PRL’s 2.5-meter telescope at Mount Abu Observatory. It is also the fifth exoplanet discovery facilitated by the combined efforts of the PARAS-1 and PARAS-2 spectrographs. India's growing proficiency in astronomical instrumentation is highlighted through PARAS-2, the most precise stabilized radial velocity (RV) spectrograph in Asia. The high-resolution radial velocity data from PARAS-2, combined  with speckle imaging from PRL’s telescope, played a crucial role in confirming the planetary nature of the observed transit signal.

Initial findings on TOI-6038A b’s internal structure indicate that about 75% of its mass consists of a dense rocky core, while the remaining fraction is composed of a hydrogen-helium envelope. This offers valuable insights into the transition from rocky planets to gas giants. The system’s brightness makes it an ideal candidate for further atmospheric studies and spin-orbit alignment research, potentially refining theories on exoplanet migration. Additionally, investigating possible undetected companions within the system may shed further light on the factors shaping its evolution.