Exoplanet TOI-421 b and Its Star (Illustration)

 Exoplanet TOI-421 b and Its Star (Illustration)

Illustration of what exoplanet TOI-421 b might look like. TOI-421 b is a hot sub-Neptune-sized exoplanet orbiting a Sun-like star roughly 244 light-years from Earth. TOI-421 b is thought to have a clear atmosphere free of haze and clouds. 

This illustration is based on our knowledge of the planet and its host star, and predictions about the likely properties of the planet’s atmosphere. Spectroscopic data from Webb will help us better understand the composition of the planet’s atmosphere. 

TOI-421 b is in between Earth and Neptune in terms of size (radius 2.68 times Earth), mass (7.2 times Earth), and density (2 times water). It orbits its star at a distance of only 0.056 astronomical unit (5.6% of the distance between Earth and the Sun), completing one orbit in 5.2 Earth-days. The star, TOI-421, has a radius 0.87 times that of the Sun, a mass 0.85 times the Sun, and a temperature of 5325 kelvins (around 5050 degrees Celsius), slightly cooler than the Sun.

Credits

Artwork

NASA, ESA, CSA, Dani Player (STScI)

About The Object
Object Name TOI-421 b
Object Description Hot sub-Neptune exoplanet orbiting a G-type (Sun-like) star
R.A. Position 05:27:24.79
Dec. Position -14:16:36.27
Constellation Lepus
Distance  244 light-years from Earth
Dimensions Radius: 2.68 times Earth; Mass: 7.2 times Earth; Density: 2.05 times water; Distance from star: 0.056 AU; Orbital period: 5.2 Earth-days
About The Data
Data Description Illustration based on from the Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS)
About The Object
Object Name A name or catalog number that astronomers use to identify an astronomical object.
Object Description The type of astronomical object.
R.A. Position Right ascension – analogous to longitude – is one component of an object's position.
Dec. Position Declination – analogous to latitude – is one component of an object's position.
Constellation One of 88 recognized regions of the celestial sphere in which the object appears.
Distance The physical distance from Earth to the astronomical object. Distances within our solar system are usually measured in Astronomical Units (AU). Distances between stars are usually measured in light-years. Interstellar distances can also be measured in parsecs.
Dimensions The physical size of the object or the apparent angle it subtends on the sky.
About The Data
Data Description
  • Proposal: A description of the observations, their scientific justification, and the links to the data available in the science archive.
  • Science Team: The astronomers who planned the observations and analyzed the data. "PI" refers to the Principal Investigator.
Instrument The science instrument used to produce the data.
Exposure Dates The date(s) that the telescope made its observations and the total exposure time.
Filters The camera filters that were used in the science observations.
About The Image
Image Credit The primary individuals and institutions responsible for the content.
Publication Date The date and time the release content became public.
Color Info A brief description of the methods used to convert telescope data into the color image being presented.
Orientation The rotation of the image on the sky with respect to the north pole of the celestial sphere.