NASA’s TESS telescope uncovers strange exoplanet 250 light-years from Earth

TOI Science Desk / TIMESOFINDIA.COM / Mar 27, 2025, 13:00 IST

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NASA's TESS telescope has discovered an intriguing exoplanet, TOI-1453 c, located 250 light-years away, with an unusually low density. Measuring 2.2 times the size of Earth and 2.9 times its mass, it challenges current planetary formation theories. TOI-1453 c's unique orbital pattern and composition will be further studied, including by the James Webb Space Telescope.

NASA’s TESS telescope uncovers strange exoplanet 250 light-years from Earth

NASA’s TESS telescope has made an intriguing discovery, uncovering an exoplanet 250 light-years away from Earth. Known as TOI-1453 c, this planet is unlike any other, with a surprisingly low density that has puzzled scientists. At 2.2 times the size of Earth but only 2.9 times its mass, TOI-1453 c challenges current theories of planetary formation. The discovery, made with the help of TESS and other advanced tools, could offer new insights into the nature of exoplanets. As researchers continue to study its unique characteristics, the planet is expected to be a key target for further investigation, including analysis by the James Webb Space Telescope.

TOI-1453 c’s low density and orbital resonance challenge planetary theories

TOI-1453 c is a fascinating new discovery, being 2.2 times larger than Earth but only 2.9 times as massive. This makes it one of the least dense exoplanets found. Scientists are exploring two ideas to explain its composition: it might have a thick hydrogen-rich atmosphere, or its interior could be mostly water, similar to an ocean world. Adding to the mystery, TOI-1453 c follows a unique orbital pattern. It orbits its star in a 3:2 resonance with its neighboring planet, TOI-1453 b, meaning for every three orbits of TOI-1453 b, TOI-1453 c completes two. This suggests the planets may have shifted from their original positions.

How NASA’s TESS and HARPS-N confirmed the discovery of TOI-1453 c

Confirmation was made of TOI-1453 c's discovery using advanced methods by NASA's TESS telescope and the HARPS-N spectrograph. The transit method was utilized by scientists where the size of the planet was measured through drops in starlight as it passed its host star. The radial velocity method was used to determine the mass of the planet through the monitoring of its gravitational effect on the star. This development is rich with insights regarding exoplanets such as TOI-1453 c, particularly sub-Neptunes that abound in the galaxy but nowhere in our own Solar System. As a result, this exoplanet is expected to be a key focus for future studies of its atmosphere and composition.

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