Astronomers Discover , Massive 'Forbidden Planet' , Orbiting Small, Dim Star.
CNN reports that astronomers have found
an unusually large planet located about
280 light-years away from Earth.
The newly-discovered world, called TOI 5205b, orbits
a relatively small star, given that the planet's unexpected
size has led researchers to dub it the "forbidden planet." .
The planet, which was spotted by NASA's Transiting
Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS), is roughly the same
size as Jupiter, the largest planet in our solar system.
NASA's planet-hunting TESS mission was
launched in 2018, searching the nearest and
brightest stars for potential planets orbiting them.
CNN reports that TESS has already
discovered thousands
of potential planets.
The planet orbits a red dwarf star,
TOI-5205, which is about 40% of
our sun's size and mass. .
It's also about 5,660 degrees Fahrenheit
in temperature, which is much cooler than our
sun's average of 9,980 degrees Fahrenheit.
Not only are these dim stars among the most
common types of stars in the universe, they are
also more likely to have planets orbiting them.
However, astronomers were surprised
to find such a small star
home to such a giant planet. .
The team's findings were published
on February 21 in 'The Astronomical.'