Astronomers have detected a rare gas giant exoplanet, AT2021uey b, 3,262 light-years away from Earth in the galactic halo. This discovery marks only the third such finding in astronomical history. The planet is similar to Jupiter or Saturn in composition and orbits an M dwarf star, completing one revolution every 4,170 days.
The detection was made using gravitational microlensing, a technique first predicted by Albert Einstein in the early 20th century. Gravitational microlensing detects planets by observing temporary amplification of starlight when a massive object passes between Earth and a distant star, creating a magnifying glass effect.
The discovery was a collaboration between researchers from Vilnius University in Lithuania and international colleagues. It involved combining space-based observations with ground measurements from the European Space Agency’s Gaia telescope.
According to Dr Marius Maskoliūnas, who led the Lithuanian research team, “This kind of work requires a lot of expertise, patience, and luck.” The project combined data from various sources and took years to verify and analyse before confirming the discovery.
The finding adds to nearly 6,000 exoplanets confirmed since the first planet orbiting a sun-like star was found in 1995. It also highlights the importance of gravitational microlensing for detecting invisible cosmic matter, which accounts for 90% of the Milky Way’s total mass.
“This method can detect those invisible bodies,” said Dr Maskoliūnas, “You’re essentially measuring shadows.” The discovery provides a unique insight into the formation of planets and the composition of gas giants in our galaxy.
Source: https://www.gbnews.com/science/space-breakthrough-astronomers-discover-rare-jupiter-like-exoplanet-fringes-milky-way