A new discovery by NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) has revealed a new planet in the Kepler-51 system.
The Kepler-51 system is a cluster known for its “super-puff” planets with densities as light as cotton candy.
The find came as researchers from Penn State and Osaka University investigated Kepler-51d, one of three previously known planets in the system, located 2,600 light-years from Earth.
During observations, the team noticed unusual gravitational influences affecting the planet’s orbit, leading them to identify a fourth planet, Kepler-51e.
This marks the first time a planet has been discovered using JWST through a method known as transit timing variations, where a planet’s gravitational pull alters the timing of another planet’s transit across its star.
Dr. Jessica Libby-Roberts, a postdoctoral fellow at Penn State and co-lead of the research, described the Kepler-51 system as “exceptional.”
She said: “The three previously known planets are about the size of Saturn but only a few times the mass of Earth, with densities so low they resemble cotton candy.
“Now, we’ve found a fourth planet, and its presence is reshaping our understanding of the system.”
The discovery sheds light on the mysterious Kepler-51 system, first observed by NASA’s Kepler Space Telescope.
The planets are unusual for their massive hydrogen and helium atmospheres, which have remained intact despite intense radiation from their young star.
Kepler-51e, the newest addition to the system, is believed to have an orbit of 264 days, placing it near the star’s habitable zone.
Researchers estimate its mass to be similar to the other three planets, but its radius and density remain unknown as it has not been directly observed transiting its star.
Professor Kento Masuda from Osaka University, a co-lead on the research, said: “The discovery of Kepler-51e offers new insights into the gravitational dynamics of planetary systems.
“This work demonstrates the power of JWST to uncover details that would have been impossible to detect otherwise.”
The JWST team relied on additional data from NASA’s Kepler and Hubble telescopes, as well as Earth-based observatories, to refine their models and confirm the presence of the new planet.
Dr. Libby-Roberts said: “Kepler-51e is just inside the star’s habitable zone, so there may be much more to uncover in this fascinating system.”
The findings were published in The Astronomical Journal.
