TESS Discovers Two Rocky Exoplanets Orbiting a Red Dwarf
During a series of observations, TESS recorded regular changes in the brightness of HD 260655, caused by the transits of two exoplanets, designated HD 260655 b and HD 260655 c. Astronomers were then able to confirm the existence of these rocky exoplanets.
Using NASA's TESS telescope, a team of astronomers has discovered two previously unknown rocky exoplanets that orbit the nearby red dwarf known as HD 260655, located 32.6 light years from Earth. It is about 56 percent smaller and less massive than the sun, and its age is estimated to be between 2 and 8 billion years.
During a series of observations, TESS recorded regular changes in the brightness of HD 260655, caused by the transits of two exoplanets, designated HD 260655 b and HD 260655 c. Astronomers were then able to confirm the existence of these rocky exoplanets.
HD 260655 b has a radius of about 1.24 Earth radii, and its mass is 2.14 times that of the Earth. The exoplanet makes one revolution around its parent star every 2.77 days.
HD 260655 is larger and more massive than its neighbor. It has a radius of 1.53 Earth radii, and its mass is 3.09 times greater than that of Earth. Its orbital period is 5.7 days.