IIT-Kanpur Professor Discovered Exoplanet

• 27 Jul 2024

Why in News?

An international team of astronomers, including an assistant professor in the Department of Space, Planetary & Astronomical Sciences & Engineering (SPASE) at IIT-Kanpur, has discovered a large exoplanet revolving around a nearby star that is similar to our Sun.

Key Points

• According to the scientific journal Nature, the extrasolar planet known as Epsilon Indi Ab, or Eps Ind Ab, is classified as a 'super-Jupiter' due to its mass being at least six times greater than that of Jupiter.
  • Eps Ind Ab is the first mature exoplanet (a planet outside our solar system) to be discovered using the direct imaging technique.
• Using the James Webb Space Telescope's Mid-Infrared Instrument, the international team of astronomers has directly imaged a new exoplanet orbiting the K5V-type star Epsilon Indi A (also known as HD 209100 or HI).
  • The direct imaging of a nearby mature exoplanet represents a significant milestone in the field of space exploration.
• The recently identified planet is situated 12 light-years from the Earth and is frigid, with a temperature around -1°C (30°F).
  • Its orbit is also tremendous, revolving around its star at a distance 28 times greater than the distance between the Earth and the Sun.