Astronomers from Vilnius University, in collaboration with colleagues from Poland and other countries, have made a groundbreaking discovery of an exceptional exoplanet using the microlensing method. This is only the third such detection in the history of observations.
The team identified a gas giant located 3,262 light-years away, with a mass that reaches 1.3 times that of Jupiter. The planet orbits around a small and cool star, completing one orbit every 4,170 days. What’s remarkable about this discovery is its unusual size ratio and location – it was detected in the galactic halo, far from the center.
The microlensing method allowed scientists to detect the planet by analyzing data from the European Space Agency’s Gaia telescope. The phenomenon occurs when a massive body temporarily blocks the light from a more distant star, creating a temporary “pulsation” that can be used to determine the presence of an exoplanet.
According to Assoc. Prof. Edita Stonkutė, the leader of the joint Polish-Lithuanian project, this detection is significant because most microlensing effects are recorded at the galaxy’s center. This discovery proves that the microlensing method can be used to detect planets in unexpected locations.
The team’s collaboration and data analysis were largely serendipitous, with Prof. Lukasz Wyrzykowski suggesting the idea of a joint project. The discovery highlights the potential of this method for unveiling invisible bodies in our galaxy, which currently accounts for 90% of its mass.
Source: https://phys.org/news/2025-06-unique-method-astronomers-exceptional-planet.html