NASA's TESS mission has uncovered two new exoplanets described as the 'puffiest' worlds ever found. These Jupiter-sized planets possess such extraordinarily low density that scientists compare their consistency to cotton candy.
The two 'super-puff' planets orbit a star some 1,200 light-years away. Their extreme puffiness sets them apart from any previously known worlds, challenging existing models of planetary formation. Researchers calculated their densities using transit photometry data from TESS combined with follow-up observations.
The discovery was announced by NASA in a blog post on the agency's science website. TESS, the Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite, launched in 2018 to survey nearby stars for exoplanets. The mission has since identified thousands of candidates, but these two are among the most peculiar.
These worlds offer a laboratory for studying how gas giants can retain such large atmospheres. They may help refine theories about planetary migration and atmospheric escape. The find underscores how TESS continues to expand our understanding of planetary diversity.
A separate study involving JWST detected salt clouds on a different object called the Pink Planet, a planetary-mass companion discovered in 2013. That object, too faint for ground-based telescopes until now, provided direct evidence for salt clouds in a cold atmosphere.
Counter argument: Critics note that 'super-puff' planets' properties rely on model-dependent calculations. Without direct atmospheric sampling, the exact composition and long-term stability of such worlds remain uncertain.
AI context: This brief combines two distinct findings from the same scientific domain, focusing on the more significant TESS discovery. The Pink Planet study by JWST is mentioned as a secondary note. All numbers and qualitative descriptions come directly from NASA statements.
Topics: | exoplanets | TESS | super-puff | low density |
Entities: | NASA | TESS | Pink Planet | JWST |
Impact score: 6.2 Confidence: 0.95 Read time secs: 120