Scientists at the Physical Research Laboratory (PRL) in Ahmedabad have made a significant discovery, identifying a new exoplanet named TOI-6038A b. This dense planet, categorized as a sub-Saturn, boasts a mass 78.5 times that of Earth and a radius 6.41 times that of Earth. It orbits a bright star in a circular path every 5.83 days.
TOI-6038A b is unique because it falls between Neptune-like and gas-giant planets, a type that isn’t found in our solar system. This discovery is important for studying how planets form and evolve.
The PARAS-2 spectrograph at PRL’s Mount Abu Observatory made the discovery possible. This marks the second exoplanet identified using this advanced instrument and the fifth found through the combined efforts of the PARAS-1 and PARAS-2 spectrographs.
The PARAS-2 spectrograph, the highest-resolution spectrograph in Asia, played a vital role in measuring the planet’s mass and confirming its existence.
TOI-6038A b has a high density, making it one of the dense sub-Saturns. It is likely formed through unique processes. The planet’s host star, TOI-6038A, is part of a binary system with another star, TOI-6038B, which is far away. This raises questions about the planet’s formation and movement.
Scientists found that TOI-6038A b has a substantial rocky core that makes up about 75% of its total mass. The rest of the planet is made up of hydrogen and helium.
This discovery helps us understand how planets change from rocky to gas giants. Because the system is very bright, it’s an excellent choice for more studies, like examining its atmosphere and how its orbit aligns with its spin.
Journal Reference:
- Sanjay Baliwal, Rishikesh Sharma et al. TOI-6038 A b: A dense sub-Saturn in the transition regime between the Neptunian ridge and savanna. arXiv: 2501.02272v1
Source: Tech Explorist
