Latest news with #AbderahmaneSoubkiou
Metro
6 hours ago
- Science
- Metro
'Super-Earth' sending out strange signal over 145 light years discovered
Scientists have discovered a 'super-Earth' awash with oceans on one side and baked on the other after it flashed a repeated signal. The exoplanet, TOI-1846 b, is almost two times larger and four times heavier than Earth, and a year is only four Earth days. TOI-1846 b is 154 light years away – to put that into perspective, it would take a car driving at 60mph about 2billion years to get there. The alien world orbits a dim, reddish ball of gas called a red dwarf star in the northern constellation Lyra. Scientists discovered it after tracing back a flickering light recorded by NASA's Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite in March. By pointing both space and ground-based telescopes up at the signal, researchers realised it was a planet blotting out a few hundredths of a percent of the light of its star as it orbited past. The team wrote in a recently published paper TOI-1846 b falls into the so-called 'radius gap' – not quite a rocky planet, not quite a gas giant. TOI-1846 b probably has a layer of dense ice underneath and is awash in oceans of water, topped by a thin atmosphere. It would be about 295°C on the planet's surface, as only one side of it is ever facing its sun. Abderahmane Soubkiou, lead researcher at Oukaimeden Observatory in Morocco, said: 'We have validated TOI-1846 b using TESS and multicolour ground-based photometric data, high-resolution imaging, and spectroscopic observations.' But while that sounds like a lot, more tests and observations are needed to figure out the planet's atmosphere and composition. There's only a slim chance that life could be wriggling around the planet's oceans given the blistering temperatures. But its host star, TOI-1846, makes the chances of this not too bad elsewhere. Compared to our Sun, the 7.2billion years old TOI-1846 is tiny – just 0.4 times the size of our neighbourhood star and is only TOI-1846. Red dwarfs are the most common type of star and, as they're cooler, their habitable zones are far closer to them. This means planetary systems that fall in these zones are far easier to spot. For now, scientists will keep looking at the star to see if any other planets are drifting around it – ones further out could more safely have water. To determine if aliens are calling any planets around TOI-1846 home, for example, scientists will now need to conduct radial velocity (RV) observations, looking at how the planet and its star wobble. This method, called transit timing, has been used to confirm more than 630 exoplanets so far across 7,600 transit events witnessed by TESS. Astronomers had long suspected that other planets like the ones whizzing around our Sun exist, but struggled to spot them. Now they have confirmed nearly 5,300, according to the Open Exoplanet Catalog. Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@ For more stories like this, check our news page. MORE: Two black holes just smashed together into something 225 times the mass of our Sun MORE: A mysterious, ancient '12-mile wide interstellar visitor' is racing towards us MORE: The Simpsons predict the future – again – after scientists plan artificial solar eclipse
Scottish Sun
13 hours ago
- Science
- Scottish Sun
Nasa uncovers ‘Super Earth' planet flashing with mysterious repeating signal just 154 lightyears away
The planet may even host water OUTTA SPACE Nasa uncovers 'Super Earth' planet flashing with mysterious repeating signal just 154 lightyears away Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) NASA has uncovered a new 'Super Earth' planet just 154-lightyears away that has been flashing a mysterious signal. The planet appears to be almost twice as wide as our planet, and roughly four times heavier. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 1 Nasa's Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS) Credit: Nasa Earlier this year, Nasa's Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS) captured a repetitive flicker of starlight. The dimming pattern, captured by TESS, occurred in March of each year. Tracing it back, scientists stumbled across a 'Super Earth', dubbed TOI‑1846 b, hiding in the northern constellation Lyra. The planet has a size and weight combination that suggests it falls into the so-called 'radius gap'. READ MORE ON NASA LIFE ON MARS Remarkable Nasa photo shows eerie Mars landscape scattered with 'TREES' This a rare category between small, rocky planets like Earth and larger, gas-rich planets like Neptune. Based on this, scientists believe the newly discovered world may have a layer of dense ice underneath, topped by a thin atmosphere - or maybe even a shallow ocean. Despite an estimated surface temperature of 300C (600F), researchers say the planet may still hold water. This is because TOI‑1846 b is likely tidally locked - meaning one side always faces its star while the other remains in darkness. Water, therefore, may be trapped in the cooler, darker regions, according to scientists. Although it depends on how heat moves through its atmosphere. Best-ever sign of ALIEN life found on distant planet as scientists '99.7% sure of astounding biological activity signal' Given the scorching temperatures, alien life is unlikely to be found on the planet. Working with observers on four continents, researcher Abderahmane Soubkiou and colleagues at the Oukaimeden Observatory in Morocco confirmed the existence of the exoplanet. 'We have validated TOI‑1846 b using TESS and multicolor ground‑based photometric data, high‑resolution imaging, and spectroscopic observations,' Soubkiou wrote at the end of the team's announcement. Their measurements show the planet orbits its star in just under four days. TESS scans the sky every 30 minutes with four high-sensitivity cameras, making it the ideal tool for spotting shallow light dips like those from TOI-1846 b. Each dip in the light from its neighboring star, a Red Dwarf, is caused when the planet passes in front of it from the perspective of Earth. Because the star is faint, each transit of TOI‑1846 b subtracts only a few hundredths of a percent of its light - but TESS is built for picking up such slight flickers. But different tools are needed to learn more about the possibly rocky, water-featuring world. The team noted that the MAROON‑X instrument on Gemini North in Hawai'i can verify the planet's mass and uncover any hidden sibling planets lurking in the shadows. Nasa scientists hope they can secure time with the James Webb Space Telescope and target TOI-1846 b to study its atmosphere using infrared light. The $10 billion telescope discovered its first-ever exoplanet just last month, but has been used to analyse others on its journey through space. All you need to know about planets in our solar system Our solar system is made up of nine planets with Earth the third closest to the Sun. But each planet has its own quirks, so find out more about them all... How old is Earth? Plus other facts on our planet How many moons does Mercury have? What colour is Venus? How far away is Mars to Earth? And other facts on the red planet How big is Jupiter? How many moons does Saturn have? Does Uranus have rings? How many moons does Neptune have? How big is Pluto? How hot is the Sun?
The Irish Sun
13 hours ago
- Science
- The Irish Sun
Nasa uncovers ‘Super Earth' planet flashing with mysterious repeating signal just 154 lightyears away
NASA has uncovered a new 'Super Earth' planet just 154-lightyears away that has been flashing a mysterious signal. The planet appears to be almost twice as wide as our planet, and roughly four times heavier. 1 Nasa's Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS) Credit: Nasa Earlier this year, Nasa's Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS) captured a repetitive flicker of starlight . The dimming pattern, captured by TESS, occurred in March of each year. Tracing it back, scientists stumbled across a 'Super Earth', dubbed TOI‑1846 b, hiding in the northern constellation Lyra . The planet has a size and weight combination that suggests it falls into the so-called 'radius gap'. READ MORE ON NASA This a rare category between small, rocky planets like Earth and larger, gas-rich planets like Neptune. Based on this, scientists believe the newly discovered world may have a layer of dense ice underneath, topped by a thin atmosphere - or maybe even a shallow ocean. Despite an estimated surface temperature of 300C (600F), researchers say the planet may still hold water. This is because TOI‑1846 b is likely tidally locked - meaning one side always faces its star while the other remains in darkness. Most read in Science Water, therefore, may be trapped in the cooler, darker regions, according to scientists. Although it depends on how heat moves through its atmosphere. Best-ever sign of ALIEN life found on distant planet as scientists '99.7% sure of astounding biological activity signal' Given the scorching temperatures, alien life is unlikely to be found on the planet. Working with observers on four continents, researcher Abderahmane Soubkiou and colleagues at the Oukaimeden Observatory in Morocco confirmed the existence of the exoplanet. 'We have validated TOI‑1846 b using TESS and multicolor ground‑based photometric data, high‑resolution imaging, and spectroscopic observations,' Soubkiou wrote at the end of the team's announcement. Their measurements show the planet orbits its star in just under four days. TESS scans the sky every 30 minutes with four high-sensitivity cameras, making it the ideal tool for spotting shallow light dips like those from TOI-1846 b. Each dip in the light from its neighboring star, a Red Dwarf, is caused when the planet passes in front of it from the perspective of Earth. Because the star is faint, each transit of TOI‑1846 b subtracts only a few hundredths of a percent of its light - but TESS is built for picking up such slight flickers. But different tools are needed to learn more about the possibly rocky, water-featuring world. The team noted that the MAROON‑X instrument on Gemini North in Hawai'i can verify the planet's mass and uncover any hidden sibling planets lurking in the shadows. Nasa scientists hope they can secure time with the James Webb Space Telescope and target TOI-1846 b to study its atmosphere using infrared light. The $10 billion telescope discovered its first-ever exoplanet just last month, but has been used to analyse others on its journey through space. All you need to know about planets in our solar system Our solar system is made up of nine planets with Earth the third closest to the Sun. But each planet has its own quirks, so find out more about them all... How old is How many moons does What colour is How far away is How big is How many moons does Does How many moons does How big is How hot is the
Daily Mail
a day ago
- Science
- Daily Mail
NASA discovers 'super Earth' planet sending mysterious signal
NASA has discovered a mysterious 'super-Earth' planet that appears to flash a repeated signal from 154 light-years away. The planet, named TOI-1846 b, is almost twice the size of Earth and four times as massive. It orbits a small, cool red dwarf star every four days and causes a strange, repeated dip in the star's light, a signal that first caught scientists' attention when NASA's TESS space telescope observed the dimming pattern in March of each year. Now confirmed by a team of scientists using both space and ground-based telescopes, TOI-1846 b falls into the so-called 'radius gap,' a rare category between small, rocky planets like Earth and larger, gas-rich planets like Neptune. Despite an estimated surface temperature of 600°F, researchers say the planet may still hold water. It's believed to have a solid rocky core, a dense ice layer, and potentially even a shallow ocean or thin atmosphere. Abderahmane Soubkiou, lead researcher at Oukaimeden Observatory in Morocco, said: 'We have validated TOI-1846 b using TESS and multicolor ground-based photometric data, high-resolution imaging, and spectroscopic observations.' Their measurements also showed that the planet circles its star in just under four days, staying on an orbit that is much closer to its sun than Mercury in our Solar System. The host star is a red dwarf, about 40 percent the size and mass of our sun, glowing at around 6,000°F. Because red dwarfs are smaller and dimmer, planets must orbit close to receive warmth, which also makes it easier for telescopes to detect them as they pass in front of the star. TESS, which launched in 2018, has flagged more than 7,600 such transit events and confirmed over 630 planets so far. Its four high-sensitivity cameras scan the sky every 30 minutes, making it ideal for spotting shallow light dips like those from TOI-1846 b. The newly discovered planet is also likely tidally locked, meaning one side always faces its star while the other remains in darkness. This temperature contrast could allow water to be trapped in cooler regions, depending on how heat moves through the atmosphere. NASA scientists hope the James Webb Space Telescope will soon target TOI-1846 b to study its atmosphere using infrared light. If conditions are right, Webb could detect signs of water vapor, methane, carbon dioxide, or other gases. Ground-based telescopes like the Gemini Observatory in Hawaii are also contributing, using a precision instrument called MAROON-X to measure the tiny wobble in the star caused by the planet's gravitational pull, helping confirm its mass and look for hidden neighbors. Researchers believe TOI-1846 b might not be alone. Subtle shifts in its orbit suggest another planet could be lurking in the same system, potentially one orbiting farther out in a cooler, more habitable zone. The discovery comes alongside another recent find: TOI-715 b, a second super-Earth located 137 light-years away, also orbiting a red dwarf. Both planets help fill key gaps in astronomers' understanding of how some small planets lose their atmospheres over time while others manage to keep them. As red dwarfs make up about 75 percent of all stars in the Milky Way, studying planets like TOI-1846 b could reveal how many more potentially habitable worlds might be hiding in our galactic backyard. These discoveries mark another step forward in humanity's quest to understand the makeup of exoplanets and the potential for life beyond Earth. With continued support from both space- and ground-based observatories, astronomers hope to uncover even more secrets locked within the atmospheres and orbits of these distant worlds.
Daily Mail
a day ago
- Science
- Daily Mail
NASA discovers 'super Earth' planet emitting mysterious signal
NASA has discovered a mysterious 'super-Earth' planet that appears to flash a repeated signal from 154 light-years away. The planet, named TOI-1846 b, is almost twice the size of Earth and four times as massive. It orbits a small, cool red dwarf star every four days and causes a strange, repeated dip in the star's light, a signal that first caught scientists' attention when NASA's TESS space telescope observed the dimming pattern in March of each year. Now confirmed by a team of scientists using both space and ground-based telescopes, TOI-1846 b falls into the so-called 'radius gap,' a rare category between small, rocky planets like Earth and larger, gas-rich planets like Neptune. Despite an estimated surface temperature of 600°F, researchers say the planet may still hold water. It's believed to have a solid rocky core, a dense ice layer, and potentially even a shallow ocean or thin atmosphere. Abderahmane Soubkiou, lead researcher at Oukaimeden Observatory in Morocco, said: 'We have validated TOI-1846 b using TESS and multicolor ground-based photometric data, high-resolution imaging, and spectroscopic observations.' Their measurements also showed that the planet circles its star in just under four days, staying on an orbit that is much closer to its sun than Mercury in our Solar System. The host star is a red dwarf, about 40 percent the size and mass of our sun, glowing at around 6,000°F. Because red dwarfs are smaller and dimmer, planets must orbit close to receive warmth, which also makes it easier for telescopes to detect them as they pass in front of the star. TESS, which launched in 2018, has flagged more than 7,600 such transit events and confirmed over 630 planets so far. Its four high-sensitivity cameras scan the sky every 30 minutes, making it ideal for spotting shallow light dips like those from TOI-1846 b. The newly discovered planet is also likely tidally locked, meaning one side always faces its star while the other remains in darkness. This temperature contrast could allow water to be trapped in cooler regions, depending on how heat moves through the atmosphere. NASA scientists hope the James Webb Space Telescope will soon target TOI-1846 b to study its atmosphere using infrared light. If conditions are right, Webb could detect signs of water vapor, methane, carbon dioxide, or other gases. Ground-based telescopes like the Gemini Observatory in Hawaii are also contributing, using a precision instrument called MAROON-X to measure the tiny wobble in the star caused by the planet's gravitational pull, helping confirm its mass and look for hidden neighbors. Researchers believe TOI-1846 b might not be alone. Subtle shifts in its orbit suggest another planet could be lurking in the same system, potentially one orbiting farther out in a cooler, more habitable zone. The discovery comes alongside another recent find: TOI-715 b, a second super-Earth located 137 light-years away, also orbiting a red dwarf. Both planets help fill key gaps in astronomers' understanding of how some small planets lose their atmospheres over time while others manage to keep them. As red dwarfs make up about 75 percent of all stars in the Milky Way, studying planets like TOI-1846 b could reveal how many more potentially habitable worlds might be hiding in our galactic backyard.
