Advertisement

Updated January 18th, 2021 at 20:13 IST

Did NASA find new planet? An abandoned gas-giant planet with 3 star system

Did NASA find a new planet? NASA has discovered a planet called KOI-5Ab which is believed to be a gas giant planet similar to Jupiter or Saturn. Get details.

Reported by: Danish Ansari
Did NASA find a new planet
| Image:self
Advertisement

NASA has led a number of major space exploration efforts over the years and it appears that it made yet another astounding discovery that was hidden for years. The American space agency discovered a new planet during its Kepler Mission which consisted of three stars. The planet was known as 'KOI-5Ab', and it was the second planet candidate that was discovered by the Kepler Mission. However, the discovery had to be set aside by researchers at the time as the Kepler space telescope had racked up way more planet discoveries.

Also Read | NASA Declares Insight ‘mole’ Probe Defunct After It Fails To Burrow Mars 'deep Enough'

“KOI-5Ab got abandoned because it was complicated, and we had thousands of candidates,” said David Ciardi, chief scientist of NASA's Exoplanet Science Institute. “There were easier pickings than KOI-5Ab, and we were learning something new from Kepler every day, so that KOI-5 was mostly forgotten.”

Also Read | NASA Performs Hot Fire Test Of SLS Rocket Core Stage

NASA's TESS helps uncover more details about KOI-5Ab

Ciardi, along with other researchers, was able to find out that the planet was found circling a star in a triple-star system. However, the researchers couldn't figure out if the planet signal was real. Now, after a number of new observations and missions using the Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS) and other telescopes, David Ciardi has been able to gather information about the planet. It is one of the planets that Ciardi and the other group of researchers involved in the mission have been following upon. 

Also Read | NASA Reveals ‘previous Trustworthy’ Galaxy Has Brilliant Outbursts Every 114 Days

Ciardi stated that he wouldn't have started researching on KOI-5Ab again if TESS did not come along. He further added that it took the researchers a lot of work to finally be able to get more information about the planet.

Considering its massive size, the KOI-5Ab is believed to be a gas giant similar to Jupiter or Saturn. Speaking of the three stars, the research suggests that the planet orbits Star A, which is quite closer to Sun B. Both of these companion stars orbit each other in about 30 years. There is a third Star C which orbits both the stars in 400 years. 

Stay updated with us for more NASA news and updates. 

Also Read | NASA Posts Image Of Neutron Star, Shares Mind-blowing Fact About It

Image credits: Caltech/R. Hurt (IPAC) | NASA

Advertisement

Published January 18th, 2021 at 20:13 IST

Your Voice. Now Direct.

Send us your views, we’ll publish them. This section is moderated.

Advertisement
Advertisement

Trending Quicks

BREAKING: Mukhtar Ansari Suffers Heart Attack, Admitted to Hospital in Serious Condition
a few seconds ago
MS Dhoni lifting Ravindra Jadeja after IPL 2023 victory
3 minutes ago
Rain tax to be imposed in Canada from April
13 minutes ago
Tillu Square
15 minutes ago
Congress leader Mani Shankar Aiyar
20 minutes ago
Navi Mumbai: Man Accused Of Stealing Cardamom, Assaulted And Forced To Lick Shoes, 6 Held
22 minutes ago
Art for Hope
22 minutes ago
AIMIM
22 minutes ago
Bigbasket said it has altered its slotted delivery service to deliver within two hours against the earlier option of same day or next day delivery.
23 minutes ago
NC leadership’s presence at Mehbooba’s Iftar sparks talks of INDI alliance reconciliation
33 minutes ago
Secret weddings
35 minutes ago
Tata Steel
40 minutes ago
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Whatsapp logo