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Warm Neptune Discovered Around Sun-Like Star
Astronomers have reported the discovery of a second exoplanet, TIC 393818343 c, orbiting the Sun-like star TIC 393818343, about 300 light-years from Earth. Details of the discovery have been published on the preprint server arXiv.
TIC 393818343 is an early G-type star estimated to be 3.8 billion years old. It is slightly larger and more massive than the Sun, and has an effective temperature of 5,756 Kelvin (K). The first exoplanet, TIC 393818343 b, discovered in May 2024, has a mass more than four times that of Jupiter and an equilibrium temperature of about 805 K, so it is classified as a warm Jupiter.
The discovery of TIC 393818343 c was the result of ground-based observations using several telescopes around the world, including the Nastro Verde Observatory and the Las Cumbres Observatory (LCOGT) in Italy. The researchers found discrepancies in the predicted orbital period of TIC 393818343 b, raising suspicions that other planets exist in the system. The change in the transit time of the first planet was more than an hour, confirming the existence of TIC 393818343 c.
According to the study, TIC 393818343 c has an orbital period of 7.84 days, making it an inner satellite of TIC 393818343 b. The equilibrium temperature is expected to be around 1027K. Based on the data obtained, astronomers classified TIC 393818343 c as a super-Neptunian gas giant, ruling out the possibility that it is a terrestrial world.
A super-Neptune is an alien world that is larger than Neptune and has a mass 0.47 times that of Jupiter. Planets like TIC 393818343 c are generally less common among solar-type stars. The scientists also noted that further research will help to better understand the properties of TIC 393818343 c.
Further study of this planet requires atmospheric spectroscopy and radial velocity measurements to clarify its true mass and atmospheric properties. The discovery of TIC 393818343 c may contribute to a more complete understanding of the formation and evolution of exoplanetary systems around G-type stars.