– Citizen scientists helping NASA’s TESS exoplanet hunting mission have discovered a new exoplanet orbiting a binary star system around 309 light years from Earth.
– The exoplanet, known as TOI 4633 c but nicknamed “Percival” after a Harry Potter character, is around three times the size of Earth and orbits in the habitable zone of its star TOI 4633 A where liquid water could exist.
– Percival has a very elongated and long orbit of 272 days, making it remarkable. It may have an atmosphere of water vapor, hydrogen and methane rather than a solid surface.
– The system includes another planet TOI 4633 b on a shorter 34-day orbit and the two stars TOI 4633 A and B that orbit each other over 203 years.
– Citizen scientists were key to detecting Percival’s faint signal due to its long orbit. The discovery provides new insights into planet formation in binary systems.
– While not habitable itself, Percival’s system could harbor habitable moons and is promising for future exoplanet detection efforts given the brightness of its stars.
Source: Space
