A planet and a brown dwarf for TOI-179. The paper: “TOI-179: A young system with a transiting compact Neptune-mass planet and a low-mass companion in outer orbit” of S. Desidera (INAF – OAPd) appeared on A&A

Typically, planets did not form at the distance from their central stars where we observe them today. In fact, during their early evolution, planets migrate from their initial orbit until the system reaches its final configuration. Planetary migration can be induced by several processes: the interaction between the newborn planets and the protoplanetary disk where they formed, the gravitational interaction

» Read more

Two terrestrial planets discovered in the habitable zone of the star GJ1002. The study: “Two temperate Earth-mass planets orbiting the nearby star GJ1002” of A. Suárez Mascareño (Istituto de Astrofisica de Canarias) appeaed on A&A

The search for terrestrial like exoplanets in the habitable zone of their stars is one of the most significant areas of exoplanetary science. The habitable zone is defined as the region around a given star where rocky planets are within the suitable temperature range to potentially support liquid water on their surfaces. Earth-like planets within habitable zones are therefore the

» Read more

Five molecular species found in the atmosphere of WASP-69b. The study: “The GAPS Programme at TNG. XXXVIII. Five molecules in the atmosphere of the warm giant planet WASP-69b detected at high spectral resolution” of G. Guilluy (INAF-OATo) recently appeared on A&A

In recent years, advances in instrumentation, knowledge, and observational strategies in the field of exoplanets have allowed for the identification and confirmation of thousands of planets around other stars (exoplanets). Moreover, for the past few years, astronomers have been capable of studying the chemistry and physical properties of the atmospheres of some of these exotic worlds. These studies can also

» Read more

TOI-1807b, the youngest Ultra-Short Period exoplanet discovered so far. “The GAPS Programme at TNG XXXVII. A precise density measurement of the young ultra-short period planet TOI-1807 b” of D. Nardiello (INAF -OAPd) appeared on A&A

Among the 5322 exoplanets discovered so far (from NASA), approximately 100 planets belong to the class of Ultra-Short Period (USP) exoplanets. These planets have very close orbits around their stars, with a period shorter than one day on Earth. They typically have a radius smaller than 2 Earth radii and are likely to be rocky cores of gaseous planets that lost their

» Read more

Two bright flares in DS Tuc A and their impact on the nearby planet. The paper: “X-ray flares of the young planet host Ds Tucanae A” of I. Pillitteri recently appeared on A&A

Flares are among the most energetic magnetic phenomena occuring in stars. They are triggered by a sudden release of energy previously stored in the stellar magnetic field, and then they culminate with the formation of magnetic loops in the stellar coronae filled by X-ray and UV emitting plasma at million degrees. Sometimes, these magnetic structures erupt, releasing in the surrounding

» Read more

Howe many planets around M dwarf stars? The study: “HADES RV Programme with HARPS-N at TNG. XV. Planetary occurrence rates around early-M dwarfs” of M. Pinamonti (INAF-OATo) recently appeared on A&A

M dwarf stars, with temperature ranging between 2400 and 3900 K and mass between 0.08 and 0.7 solar masses, are ideal targets for the search of exoplanets. This because the most important techniques to search for exoplanets are more effective when applied to stars of this spectral type than to more massive stars. For instance, the method of radial velocity

» Read more

Flares and variability in DS Tucanae A e AU Mic. The study: “Short-term variability of DS Tucanae A observed with TESS” of S. Colombo (INAF – OAPA) recently appeared on A&A

Stars are variable sources over timescales which depend on the phenomena triggering this variability. These phenomena are typically produced by the interaction between the stellar magnetic field and its plasma. Typical examples, observed and studied in great details in the Sun, are: flares (sudden release of a large amount of energy by the magnetic field which heats the gas in

» Read more

The interaction between star and planet triggers more energetic flares. The study: “X-ray variability of HD 189733 across eight years of XMM-Newton observations” of I. Pillitteri (INAF – OAPA) recently appeared on A&A

The corona is the outermost part of the atmosphere in stars with intermediate and low mass. In this region, which is extended for several stellar radii, the plasma can reach temperatures of several million degrees, emitting mainly X-ray radiation. The coronal temperature varies over a range of several orders of magnitude as a function of several stellar parameters, such as

» Read more

Photoevaporation in young planets. The study: “New Constraints on the Future Evaporation of the Young Exoplanets in the V1298 Tau System” of A. Maggio (INAF – OAPA) recently appeared on ApJ

The search for young exoplanets is crucial to our understanding of the planetary formation process and the early evolution of planets. The disc of gas and dust from which planets form, in fact, typically disperse in a few million of years. Before that, the young planets interact with all the material orbiting around the star within the disk, triggering important

» Read more

As X/UV radiation affects the chemistry of planetary atmosphere. The study: “Extreme-ultraviolet- and X-Ray-driven Photochemistry of Gaseous Exoplanets” of D. Locci (INAF – OAPA) recently appeared on PSJ

Some of the 4903 exoplanets discovered and confirmed so far (https://exoplanets.nasa.gov/) orbit very close to their stars. We learnt with the very first planet discovered around a star different than the Sun (51 Pegasi b, discovered in 1995) that planets with very close orbits are possible in nature. 51 Pegasi b, in fact, orbits at about 0.05 Astronomical Units (AU,

» Read more
1 2 3 4 6