Astronomers Discover Two Gigantic, Low-Density Planets

Astronomers have discovered two giant planets that are lighter than cotton candy. These planets are the largest ones found with less density than this sweet treat. They orbit a star 1,110 light-years away from Earth. George Dransfield from the University of Oxford says that these planets are the lightest of their size.

The planets are likely white or blue, depending on the clouds in their atmosphere. They probably consist mostly of hydrogen and helium, but scientists need more observations from NASA’s Webb Space Telescope to confirm this. The discovery comes from NASA’s TESS satellite, which has been observing these planets for the past ten years.

One of these planets takes 139 days to orbit its star, and the other takes 232 days. These planets are rare because they form from gas and dust around a young star. They lose much of their material over time.

Dransfield notes that studying these unusual planets can help scientists understand how giant planets form. Currently, NASA has confirmed nearly 6,300 planets outside our solar system, but fewer than 40 are super-puffs like these new discoveries.

How much do you know?

How far away is the star that the newly discovered planets orbit?

1,110 light-years

2,150 light-years

1,500 light-years

900 light-years

Which telescope is needed for more observations of the newly discovered planets?

Hubble Space Telescope

James Webb Space Telescope

Kepler Space Telescope

Spitzer Space Telescope

What are the potential colors of the newly discovered planets depending on their atmosphere?

Red or Green

Yellow or Orange

White or Blue

Black or Gray

How many days does the first of the two discovered planets take to orbit its star?

139 days

150 days

120 days

160 days

What is the primary composition expected in the atmospheres of the discovered planets?

Nitrogen and Oxygen

Hydrogen and Helium

Methane and Ammonia

Carbon Dioxide and Argon

How many super-puff planets have been confirmed by NASA prior to this discovery?

20

30

40

50

The newly discovered planets are denser than cotton candy.

True False

The discovery was made using NASA's TESS satellite.

True False

One of the newly discovered planets orbits its star in 139 days.

True False

Astronomers believe that the newly discovered planets are made mostly of iron.

True False

George Dransfield is affiliated with the University of Cambridge.

True False

These planets are formed from gas and dust around an old star.

True False

The two newly discovered planets are the largest ones found with less density than .

The planets likely consist mostly of hydrogen and .

These planets are rare because they form from gas and dust around a star.

George Dransfield notes that studying these unusual planets can help scientists understand how giant planets .

NASA's TESS satellite has been observing these planets for the past years.

Currently, NASA has confirmed nearly 6,300 planets outside our system.

This question is required