Home ENTERTAINMENT Tiny Star, Giant Surprise: Saturn-Sized Planet Found Orbiting Dwarf Star

Tiny Star, Giant Surprise: Saturn-Sized Planet Found Orbiting Dwarf Star

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  • A huge planet the size of Saturn has been found orbiting a very small star named TOI-6894.

In a find that has shaken the usual ideas about how planets form, astronomers have spotted a Saturn-sized planet circling a star that’s surprisingly small. This star, known as TOI-6894, is located about 240 light-years from Earth in the Leo constellation.

What’s strange is that TOI-6894 has only 21% the mass of our sun. Still, it has managed to host a gas giant planet nearly the same diameter as Saturn. It’s the smallest-known star to have such a large planet next to it.

Planet Almost as Big as the Star Itself

The massive planet completes its journey around the star in just three Earth days, showing how close it lies to its host. It sits 40 times nearer to TOI-6894 than Earth does to the sun. Though lighter than Saturn, the planet’s size is impressive—56% Saturn’s mass and 17% that of Jupiter.

What makes this more unusual is that the host star is only about 2.5 times wider than the planet. In contrast, our sun is ten times wider than Jupiter. That closeness in size has left astronomers baffled.

How Did a Big Planet Form From So Little?

Normally, planets are formed from a thick disk of gas and dust left after a star’s birth. Bigger stars mean more material to form large planets. But since TOI-6894 is small, scientists expected it to have much less material to work with.

“In small clouds of dust and gas, it’s hard to build a giant planet,” explained Vincent Van Eylen from University College London.
“There’s only so much time before the star ignites and the disk disappears.”

A Planet That Changes the Rules

The research team, led by Edward Bryant of the University of Warwick, admitted that this discovery defies current planet-formation theories. They now believe their models may need adjustments.

“This is a surprising find,” said Bryant.
“The question of how such a small star can host such a large planet is one that this discovery raises, and we are yet to answer.”

What Comes Next: Peeking Inside the Planet

To understand the planet better, scientists used data from NASA’s TESS satellite and the European Southern Observatory’s Very Large Telescope. Their next step will be using the powerful James Webb Space Telescope to look at the planet’s makeup.

Researchers believe the planet has a solid core with a thick layer of hydrogen and helium gas around it. Such findings could change our idea of where and how giant planets can appear.

A Hint That Big Planets May Be Everywhere

With red dwarf stars being the most common in our galaxy, this discovery may be the first of many. Bryant notes that this could mean big planets like this one are more common than we once thought.

“Given how common red dwarfs are in our galaxy,” Bryant said,
“this could mean that giant planets may be more widespread than previously thought.”

This rare star-planet duo now opens a new chapter in space research, showing us the universe may still have many surprises in store.

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