Astronomers have made a groundbreaking discovery of an unusual Earth-sized exoplanet with a fascinating composition. The planet, named HD 63433 d, is believed to have one hemisphere of molten lava, while its other hemisphere is tidally locked in perpetual darkness. This unique find was presented by co-authors and study leaders Benjamin Capistrant from the University of Florida and Melinda Soares-Furtado from the University of Wisconsin-Madison at a meeting of the American Astronomical Society in New Orleans. The details of this discovery have just been published in The Astronomical Journal.
In addition to this discovery, another paper published in the journal Astronomy and Astrophysics details the finding of a rare small, cold exoplanet with a massive outer companion that is 100 times the mass of Jupiter. Both of these discoveries shed light on the variety of exoplanets that exist beyond our solar system.
The Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS), launched with the intention of helping scientists learn more about exoplanets, is designed to identify planets orbiting bright stars relatively close to Earth. TESS uses the transit method to identify planets, which involves observing the planet as it passes between its host star and Earth, causing a dip in the star’s light. This method provides information about the planet’s orbit, distance from its host star, and the amount of incoming light it receives.
While TESS doesn’t answer all the questions about exoplanets, it paves the way for further observation using other instruments that could help scientists understand what the planets are made of and what their atmospheres look like. This discovery is a significant step forward in the study of exoplanets and has the potential to provide valuable insights into the conditions and compositions of planets beyond our solar system.