NARIT National Astronomical Research Institute Revealed that Thai astronomers jointly discovered the expected signal from a new planet in the HAT-P-37b system at the Sierra Remote Observatory, USA. It is a gas giant planet similar to Jupiter.
Dr. Supachai Aviphan – NARIT researchers and National Tsing Hua University researchers from Taiwan, together with an international network of astronomers Using a 0.7 meter automatic telescope of the National Astronomical Research Institute. (Public Organization) at the Sierra Remote Observatory, USA and telescopes in the worldwide network. It studied the transits of the gas giant Jupiter-like planet (HAT-P-37b) for more than seven years until it found a signal expected from a new planet in the system. It also found that planet HAT-P-37b’s atmosphere is thick with clouds, making it impossible for light to pass through.
Planet HAT-P-37b It is a Jupiter-like gas giant with a mass of 1.1 times and a radius of 1.1 times that of Jupiter. It is a planet with a period of only 2.8 days. Its surface temperature is estimated to be as high as 1,200 K. Most astronomers study exoplanets. Using the transit method, it measures the decrease in light of the parent star when a planet passes in front of it. A study of planetary transit signals HAT-P-37b between 2014 and 2021 found that the time of the transit phenomenon has changed. It may be caused by another object that has not yet been discovered in that system. The transit time change signal is approximately 1.74 minutes with an orbital period of approximately 3.3 years. If the object has an orbital period twice that of the HAT-P-37b planetary period, the object might be a small planet, approximately 0.06 times the mass of the planet. world mass However, confirmation of the existence of such planets More observations will still be required in the future.
The planet’s atmosphere was also studied using the transmission spectra technique. (Transmission spectrum) found that thick clouds prevent light from shining through. At present, the study of atmospheres of exo-solar planets. Still fewer than 100, the discovery gives astronomers a better understanding of the formation of the atmospheres of extrasolar planets.
The research used a global network of medium to small telescopes. including the 0.7-meter automatic telescope at the Sierra Remote Observatory, USA (https://www.narit.or.th/index.php/telescope/trt) to study, demonstrating the potential of such telescopes. in the study of extrasolar planets and can work together as an international research network The use of medium-to-small telescopes, although not as powerful as large telescopes But with more and more spread all over the world. This makes it easy for astronomers to use. This will help to discover new knowledge. Astronomy will increase in the future.
Thank you information from : NARIT National Astronomical Research Institute
