This Neptune-like exoplanet in the TOI-270 system is a "Hycean" world with possible water vapor in its atmosphere.
What is TOI-270 d?
Discovered in 1992, this pulsar was historically significant due to this reason.
What is the first confirmed exoplanets?
This basaltic exoplanet orbits its star every 11 hours and is likely airless.
What is LHS 3844b?
This Jupiter-sized planet improbably orbits a star in a specific evolutionary stage every 1.4 days.
What is a white dwarf?
The innermost planet, "e," is covered in this molten material.
What is lava?
TOI-270’s three planets were discovered using this space telescope in 2019.
What is TESS (Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite)?
The lowest-mass pulsar planet, named after undead Norse sailors.
What is Draugr (PSR B1257+12 A)?
Its surface resembles this solar system body due to low albedo and extreme temperatures.
What is the Moon (or Mercury)?
The mechanism that likely saved the planet from engulfment during its star’s red giant phase.
What is high-eccentricity migration (or Lidov-Kozai)?
This 2003 METI message will reach 55 Cancri in 2044.
What is Cosmic Call 2?
JWST detected these three chemicals in TOI-270 d’s metal-rich atmosphere.
What are methane (CH₄), carbon dioxide (CO₂), and water vapor (H₂O)?
Lich formed from this rare event involving two dead stars.
What is a white dwarf merger?
The DSO probably formed inside this boundary, explaining its lack of volatiles.
What is the snow line?
JWST ruled out this alternative formation theory involving shared stellar envelopes.
What is common envelope evolution?
The star’s unusually high ratio of this element (C/O = 0.78) hints at carbon-rich planets.
What is carbon?
The absence of this soluble compound in TOI-270 d’s atmosphere hints at a possible global ocean.
What is ammonia (NH₃)?
These two pulsar planets were the first ever discovered.
What are Poltergeist and Phobetor (B & C)?
A hypothetical event that could’ve stripped this DSO's atmosphere and mantle.
What is a giant impact?
The triple-star system’s two red dwarfs, which may have perturbed the planet’s orbit.
What is G 229-20?
The "super metal-rich" primary star’s name, honoring a famous astronomer.
What is Copernicus (55 Cancri A)?
TOI-270’s two outer planets orbit near this resonance ratio, similar to Jupiter’s moons.
What is 2:1?
Anomalies in Lich’s pulses were once mistaken for this type of planet.
What is a gas giant (or Saturn-like planet)?
This process might explain its missing atmosphere if the star flared violently.
What is stellar stripping (or photoevaporation)?
The featureless haze in WD 1856+534 b’s spectrum suggests this atmospheric condition.
What is a high-altitude aerosol layer?
The habitable-zone planet (f) shares its name with this 17th-century telescope pioneer.
Who is Harriot?