Astronomical Cardiology: Charting the Rhythms of Heartbeat Stars with Gaia and TESS
This study identifies 112 new heartbeat star systems by combining Gaia motion data with TESS brightness measurements. Using both manual and automated methods, the team modeled light curves to determine orbital properties. Most new systems are hotter, evolved stars, and the findings help explain how stellar evolution and tidal forces shape binary star behavior.
TOI-512b: A Super-Earth Around a K-type Star
Rodrigues et al. confirm TOI-512b, a super-Earth orbiting a K-type star, using TESS and ESPRESSO. The planet has a radius of 1.54 Earth radii and a mass of 3.57 Earth masses, suggesting a rocky composition with a small core and minimal atmosphere. A second candidate planet was ruled out. While TOI-512b is not ideal for current atmospheric studies, it remains a valuable target for future exoplanet research.
Unlocking the Secrets of Star Cluster UPK 220 with Gaia and TESS
The study analyzes open star cluster UPK 220 using Gaia DR3 and TESS data, identifying eight variable stars, including eclipsing binaries and pulsating stars. By combining these findings with stellar models, the team determined the cluster’s distance (832 parsecs), age (200 million years), and metal-poor composition, refining previous estimates.
A Fading World Around a Bright Star: Unveiling a Disintegrating Planet
Astronomers discovered BD+05 4868Ab, a disintegrating exoplanet with dramatic comet-like dust tails, using NASA’s TESS. The planet orbits a bright, nearby star and sheds material due to intense heat, forming asymmetric dust tails. This discovery provides a closer, brighter example for studying rocky planet composition and the processes behind planetary destruction.
Unveiling a Trio of Earth-Sized Worlds Around a Neighboring Star
Astronomers discovered two Earth-sized planets, HD 101581 b and c, and a potential third around a nearby K-dwarf star, just 12.8 light-years away. These planets exhibit a "peas-in-a-pod" configuration, with similar sizes and evenly spaced orbits, making them excellent for studying planetary formation and atmospheres. The system’s brightness enables detailed follow-up observations to confirm the third planet and analyze the planets’ masses and atmospheric properties.
Echoes from the Cosmos: A Study of Massive Pulsating Stars
A study by Xiang-dong Shi and colleagues examined 155 massive O- and B-type pulsating stars using data from TESS, LAMOST, and Gaia. They identified two main types: Slowly Pulsating B (SPB) stars and β Cephei (BCEP) stars, mapping their pulsations and positions on evolutionary diagrams. Their findings reveal distinct frequency patterns and relationships between pulsation periods, luminosities, and temperatures, advancing our understanding of massive star evolution.