A Neptune-sized planet in a binary star system has been discovered by a team of astronomers working alongside citizen scientists. TOI 4633 c, also known as Percival, orbits around a pair of stars located approximately 309 light-years away from Earth. The planet was initially detected by citizen scientists going through data collected by NASA’s Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS), and observed as it passed in front of one of its host stars, causing a temporary dimming of the star’s light.
The discovery of this unusual system is unique as the planet takes 272 days to complete an orbit around the central star, much farther than typical planets found using the transit method. Additionally, the planet is a record-breaking find as its star is the brightest known to host a transiting planet in the “habitable” zone. It is also believed that a second planet orbits the star every 34 days.
The details of this multi-star system have been documented in a paper published in the Astrophysical Journal. Lead author Nora Eisner, a research fellow at the Flatiron Institute’s Center for Computational Astrophysics in New York City, emphasizes the importance of discovering planets in multi-star systems to comprehend variations in planet formation. The discovery was made possible with the help of over 43,000 volunteers from 90 countries involved in TESS’s Planet Hunters project. Danish citizen scientist Simon Bentzen expressed his excitement at being part of the team that identified this new system.
As researchers continue to study TOI 4633 c and its system, there is hope that finding a moon with a solid surface that could harbor water may open up new avenues for exploration and understanding planet formation. This discovery highlights the collaborative effort behind such discoveries and underscores how citizen scientists play an essential role in advancing our knowledge of space and beyond.
