In an interview, mathematician Antoine Petit discussed the discovery of two planets about 1,113 light years away from Earth. These planets, nicknamed “super-puffs,” are as large as Jupiter but remarkably light, resembling the density of cotton candy. Researchers are intrigued by the mystery of how these massive yet fluffy planets formed and maintained their size.
The study, led by University of Oxford astrophysicist George Dransfield, was published in the Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society. Super-puffs are considered rare in the universe, with fewer than 40 identified among the 6,300 confirmed exoplanets. The presence of two super-puffs orbiting the same star adds to the significance of the discovery.
Astrophysicists like Lisa Dang from the University of Waterloo speculate that internal mechanisms or factors like youth or high temperatures may contribute to the inflated size of super-puffs. The planets, named TOI-791 b and TOI-791 c, were detected by NASA’s Tess satellite and are believed to be composed of hydrogen and helium. Further observations by NASA’s Webb Space Telescope are planned to confirm their composition.
The sibling planets, according to Petit, share a gravitational connection due to their long orbital pattern. Researchers calculated their mass by observing their gravitational interaction. While additional research may challenge initial findings, scientists hope that studying these super-puffs will provide valuable insights into planet evolution.
