Scientists Discover a Dense Sub-Saturn Planet

1. On February 12, 2025, scientists from the Physical Research Laboratory (PRL) in Ahmedabad made a discovery: a new exoplanet (a planet outside our solar system), named TOI-6038A b.
2. This discovery is important because there are no planets like this in our solar system, so studying it can give scientists valuable insights into how planets form and evolve.

Why Is It Called a "Sub-Saturn"?

1. TOI-6038A b is called a sub-Saturn because it is smaller than Saturn (the planet in our solar system) but still has a similar structure.
2. It falls in between Neptune-like planets (which are smaller) and gas giants like Jupiter (which are huge and mostly made of gas).

Where Is It?

1. The planet orbits a star called TOI-6038A, which is part of a binary star system.
2. A binary system means that two stars are orbiting each other.
3. In this case, the second star is called TOI-6038B, and it is far away from the first one (about 3,217 times the distance between Earth and the Sun).

What Are the Key Features of TOI-6038A b?

1. Size: It has a mass 78.5 times that of Earth and a radius 6.41 times that of Earth.
2. Orbit: It completes one full orbit around its star in just 5.83 days (very fast compared to Earth’s 365 days).
3. Density: Its density is 1.62 g/cm³, meaning it is tightly packed with more mass for its size compared to most planets.

How Was It Discovered?

1. The discovery was made using the PARAS-2 spectrograph, a powerful tool attached to a 2.5-meter telescope at PRL’s Mount Abu Observatory in Rajasthan.
2. The PARAS-2 spectrograph is one of the most advanced instruments in Asia, capable of detecting small changes in light from distant planets.
3. This technology allowed scientists to measure the planet’s mass and confirm it was a true planet.
4. They also used another technique called speckle imaging to get a clearer picture of the planet.

What Does the Discovery Tell Us About Planet Formation?

1. The high density of TOI-6038A b suggests it might have formed through a unique process.
2. Scientists think it could have started further away from its star and then migrated closer to it over time.

What is an Exoplanet?

1. An exoplanet is a planet that orbits a star other than our Sun. These planets are located outside our solar system.
2. Exoplanets can vary greatly in size and characteristics. Some are gas giants much larger than Jupiter, while others are rocky planets similar in size to Earth.
3. They can also have a wide range of temperatures, from extremely hot to freezing cold, depending on how close or far they are from their host star.

This discovery shows how India is becoming more advanced in space research. It also highlights how studying different types of planets can help us understand more about our universe.

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