K2-33b
K2 (Kepler) mission | |
Discovery date | 21 June 2016 |
---|---|
Transit | |
Orbital characteristics | |
0.0409 +0.0021 −0.0023[3] AU | |
Eccentricity | 0.0[2] |
5.424865+0.000035 −0.000031[2] d | |
Inclination | 89.1 +0.6 −1.1[2] |
Star | K2-33 |
Physical characteristics | |
Mean radius | 5.04 +0.34 −0.37[2] R🜨 |
Mass | <3.7 MJ |
Temperature | 850 K (577 °C; 1,070 °F) |
K2-33b (also known by its EPIC designation EPIC 205117205.01) is a very young
Among known exoplanets, K2-33b is considered extremely young − a mere 9.3 million years old. Only one other exoplanet is younger, with an age of 2 Myr (
Physical characteristics
Mass, radius, and temperature
K2-33b is a
Atmosphere
By 2022, the atmosphere of K2-33b was found to be hazy, without any noticeable molecular bands in transmission spectrum. Given the planetary radius and temperature, atmosphere is likely to contain an abundant carbon monoxide and dense tholin haze.[4]
Host star
The planet orbits an (
The star's apparent magnitude, or how bright it appears from Earth's perspective, is 14.3. Therefore, it is too dim to be seen with the naked eye.
Orbit
K2-33b orbits its host star with an orbital period of 5.424 days at a distance of 0.049 AU (compared to the distance of
Age and formation
The planet is best known for its remarkably young age, which is estimated to be about 9.3 million years.[2] Given this age, the planetary system most likely formed back near the end of the Miocene epoch of the Earth's history. Observations made on the planet confirmed that it was in fact a fully formed exoplanet, not just a protoplanet that was still in the stages of developing. The mass and radius of the exoplanet further help constrain this statement.[2][1]
K2-33b is the youngest confirmed transiting exoplanet. There are relatively few other exoplanets discovered to date with an age this young, all of which are non-transiting (with some that were detected around the hot
The discoveries of K2-33b and
Understanding the young ages of such exoplanets may eventually help to lead scientists on how planetary formation works and provide some clues on the origin of the Solar System and other such planetary systems discovered.
Discovery
In 2014,
The star was studied on days in late January, February, and March 2016. The observations were made with the Immersion Grating Infrared Spectrometer (IGRINS) on the 2.7-m Harlan J. Smith Telescope at the McDonald Observatory.[2] After observing the respective transits, which for K2-33b occurred roughly every 5 days (its orbital period), it was eventually concluded that a planetary body was responsible for the periodic 5-day transits. The discovery was announced on 20 June 2016 in an announcement made by NASA.[8]
See also
- V830 Tau b
References
- ^ S2CID 4408972.
- ^ .
- ^ "K2-33b CONFIRMED PLANET OVERVIEW PAGE". NASA Exoplanet Archive. Retrieved 2016-07-06.
- S2CID 253523210
- ^ Fraser Cain (16 September 2008). "How Old is the Sun?". Universe Today. Retrieved 19 February 2011.
- ^ Fraser Cain (15 September 2008). "Temperature of the Sun". Universe Today. Retrieved 19 February 2011.
- S2CID 1046761.
- ^ National Aeronautics and Space Administration. 20 June 2016. Retrieved 1 September 2016.