'Improbable Planet' Somehow Survives Being Swallowed by Red Giant Star

[Judi Lynn]

By Chelsea Gohd 9 hours ago Science & Astronomy

It shouldn't exist, but it does.



Artist's illustration of NASA's Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS). Using data from TESS, scientists have discovered an "improbable" exoplanet that should've been engulfed by its star but wasn't.
(Image: © NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center)

Scientists have discovered a "survivalist" planet that shouldn't exist orbiting a pulsating star.

Using astroseismology data from NASA's Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite, or TESS, a team of researchers studying the red giant stars HD 212771 and HD 203949 detected oscillations, which are "gentle pulsations at the surfaces of stars," lead author Tiago Campante of the Instituto de Astrofísica e Ciências do Espaço (IA) and Faculdade de Ciências da Universidade do Porto, told Space.com. This is actually the first time that oscillations have been found by TESS in stars that host exoplanets.

And, because these stars have orbiting exoplanets, the investigation was able to go even deeper.

"TESS observations are precise enough to allow measuring the gentle pulsations at the surfaces of stars. These two fairly evolved stars also host planets, providing the ideal testbed for studies of the evolution of planetary systems," Campante said in a statement.

More:
https://www.space.com/improbable-exoplanet-survive-engulf-red-giant-star.html?utm_source=notification