The Gaia spacecraft, during its mission to map the Milky Way Galaxy (the galaxy that contains Earth), has discovered a “zigzag” pattern in the movement of a star named HIP-99770, indicating it may be influenced by a massive object.
Further observations supported by the Subaru Telescope (located in Hawaii, USA) of the National Astronomical Observatory of Japan enabled scientists to capture a remarkably rare image of a giant planet orbiting that star.
Stunning image of an exoplanet – (Photo: SUBARU/UTSA)
According to Science Alert, this is a rare occurrence as previous studies of exoplanets have typically relied on spectral data—indirect information about how the planet interacts with its parent star and other astronomical measurements. This is largely because they are too distant to be observed directly.
However, the planet known as HIP-99770b presents a unique opportunity, partly due to its immense size.
“Conducting research using both direct imaging and astronomical measurements allows us to gain a comprehensive understanding of an exoplanet: measuring its atmosphere, mass, and tracking it simultaneously,” stated astrophysicist Thayne Currie, who is also involved with the Subaru Telescope team and the University of Texas at San Antonio (USA).
HIP-99770b is not similar to Earth, but it marks the beginning of hope for the direct observation of an Earth-like twin in the future.
Spectral data indicate that this planet is located about 17 astronomical units from its parent star, which is 17 times the distance between Earth and the Sun.
It is also enormous and extremely heavy, with a mass 14-16 times that of Jupiter (equivalent to over 4,450 to more than 5,000 times that of Earth), although its radius is only about 1.05 times that of Jupiter.
Its parent star is much larger than the Sun, so this planet receives radiation equivalent to that of Jupiter, with evidence of water and carbon monoxide in its atmosphere.
The initial study has just been published in Science, while additional results from more specific analyses will be released later this year and next year.
