An international team of scientists led by Prof. Abhijit Chakraborty at the Exoplanet Research Group of the Physical Research Laboratory (PRL), Ahmedabad, has discovered a new exoplanet. The planet, named TOI 4603b, is located 731 light-years from Earth and has a mass 13 times that of Jupiter.
TOI 4603b is the third exoplanet discovered by Indian scientists using the PRL Advanced Radial-velocity Abu-sky Search (PARAS) spectrograph. The PARAS spectrograph is an indigenously developed instrument that is used to measure the precise velocities of stars. This allows scientists to detect the presence of planets by looking for small changes in the star's velocity as the planet orbits it.
TOI 4603b is a very hot planet, with a surface temperature of 1670 degrees Celsius. This is because it orbits its star very close, at a distance of only one-tenth the distance between Earth and the Sun. The planet's proximity to its star also means that it has a very short orbital period, completing one orbit every 7.24 days.
The discovery of TOI 4603b is a significant achievement for Indian astronomy. It is the third exoplanet discovered by Indian scientists, and it is the first exoplanet discovered by the PARAS spectrograph. The discovery of TOI 4603b adds to the growing body of evidence that suggests that exoplanets are common in the universe. It also provides valuable insights into the formation and evolution of exoplanets.
The significance of the discovery
The discovery of TOI 4603b is significant for a number of reasons. First, it is the third exoplanet discovered by Indian scientists, and it is the first exoplanet discovered by the PARAS spectrograph. The PARAS spectrograph is an indigenously developed instrument, and its success in detecting TOI 4603b is a testament to the skills and expertise of Indian scientists.
Second, TOI 4603b is a very massive planet, with a mass 13 times that of Jupiter. This makes it one of the most massive exoplanets ever discovered. The discovery of such a massive planet provides valuable insights into the formation and evolution of exoplanets.
Third, TOI 4603b orbits its star very close, at a distance of only one-tenth the distance between Earth and the Sun. This makes it one of the closest exoplanets ever discovered. The discovery of such a close-in exoplanet provides valuable insights into the types of environments in which life might be able to exist.
Overall, the discovery of TOI 4603b is a significant achievement for Indian astronomy. It is a testament to the skills and expertise of Indian scientists, and it provides valuable insights into the formation, evolution, and potential habitability of exoplanets.