High school students considered “youngest astronomers in history” find four exoplanets 200 light-years away

Two high school students have identified four new exoplanets about 200 light-years from Earth, considering them “the youngest astronomers” to make this discovery.

Kartik Pinglé, 16, and Jasmine Wright, 18, who attend Massachusetts schools, participated in the Student Research Mentoring Program (SRMP) at the Center for Astrophysics | Harvard and Smithsonian (CfA).

Together with the help of Tansu Daylan, a postdoctoral fellow at the MIT Kavli Institute for Astrophysics and Space Research, students studied and analyzed satellite data from the Transient Exoplanet (TESS) survey.

Together they focused on Tess Object of Interest (TOI) 1233, a bright, nearby sun-like star, and found here four planets revolving around the star.

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Two high school students have identified four new exoplanets about 200 light-years from Earth, considering them “the youngest astronomers” to make this discovery. Kartik Pinglé (left), 16, and Jasmine Wright (right), 18, both attend Massachusetts schools

“We wanted to see light changes over time,” Pinglé explained. The idea was that if the planet passed the star or passed by, it would [periodically] it covers the star and decreases its brightness. “

TESS is a space-based satellite, which has discovered more than 20,000 exoplanets in transit, some of which may be super-Earths located in the habitable zone.

While investigating in 1233, Pinglé and Wright had at least wished to find a planet, but they were overwhelmed with joy when they saw a total of four.

“I was very excited and very shocked,” Wright said. “We knew that was the goal of Daylan’s research, but finding a truly multi-planetary system and being part of the discovery team was a lot of fun.”

Together they focused on Tess Object of Interest (TOI) 1233, a bright, nearby sun-like star, and found four planets revolving around the star. Three of the newly discovered planets are considered “sub-Neptunes” and the fourth is a “super-Earth” (artist print).

Three of the newly discovered planets are considered “sub-Neptunes,” which are gaseous, but smaller than the Neptune that lives in our solar system.

While observing the planets, the team determined that each completed its orbit around 1233 every six to 19.5 days.

However, the fourth planet is labeled “super-Earth” because of its large size and rock: it orbits the star in just under four days.

“Our species has long been contemplating planets beyond our solar system and, with multiplanetary systems, is winning the award,” Dylan said.

‘The planets originated from the same disk of matter around the same star, but ended up being different planets with different atmospheres and different climates due to their different orbits. Therefore, we would like to understand the fundamental processes of formation and evolution of the planet through this planetary system. ‘

TESS is a space-based satellite, which has discovered more than 20,000 exoplanets in transit, some of which may be super-Earths located in the habitable zone.

Daylan added that it was “win-win” work with Pinglé and Wright in the studio.

“As a researcher, I really enjoy interacting with young brains who are open to experimentation and learning and have minimal bias,” he said.

“I also think it’s very beneficial for high school students, as they are exposed to cutting-edge research and that quickly prepares them for a research career.”