NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope discovers fourth planet in Kepler-51 system

A recent study published in The Astronomical Journal has revealed the discovery of a fourth planet in the Kepler-51 system, already a remarkable planetary system known to host three ultra-low-density “super-puff” planets. She goes. The discovery was made by a research team led by Dr. Jessica Libby-Roberts, postdoctoral fellow at the Penn State Center for Exoplanets and Habitable Worlds, and Dr. Kento Masuda, associate professor of Earth and Space Sciences at Osaka University. The discovery suggests that the gravitational influence of the newly identified planet, called Kepler-51e, explains unexpected variations in the transit times of the system’s known planets.

Unexpected findings during observation

According to a report by Phys.org, researchers initially aimed to study Kepler-51d using NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope (JWST), but its transit was observed two hours earlier than anticipated. According to the report, this significant deviation prompted further analysis of data from NASA’s Kepler and TESS telescopes, the Hubble Space Telescope, and ground-based observatories such as Apache Point Observatory (APO) and Palomar Observatory. According to the team, only the four-planet model can account for the observed transit time variations.

Insights into the Kepler-51 system

Kepler-51e is believed to have a mass comparable to that of the existing planets in the system, following a relatively circular orbit of about 264 days. However, its classification as a “super-puff” remains uncertain due to the lack of transit data needed to calculate its radius and density. The inner three planets, known for their extremely low density, remain a curiosity for scientists. The team notes that taking the fourth planet into account changes the previously estimated masses of the inner planets, slightly increasing their values ​​while maintaining their status as super-puffs.

Future implications of the study

Kepler-51e’s orbit lies just inside the system’s habitable zone, suggesting the possibility of additional planets or complex gravitational interactions, Dr Libby-Roberts said in a statement, hinting at the possibility of further discovery. . Continued observations may reveal planets distant from the star, potentially contributing to the discovery of habitable worlds. Researchers are also analyzing data from JWST to study the atmospheric composition of Kepler-51d, which could shed light on the formation mechanisms of such unusual planets.