Sunday, May 11, 2025
All the Bits Fit to Print
Discovery of a two-planet microlensing system with a super-Jupiter and Saturn-class planet
Astronomers discovered a sixth two-planet system using microlensing, revealing complex orbital patterns and new challenges in analyzing such systems. The host star is probably a K-dwarf, with one super-Jupiter and one Saturn-like planet in distinct orbits.
Why it matters: This discovery highlights a new degeneracy in two-planet microlensing systems, complicating future analyses.
The big picture: Follow-up observations helped resolve ambiguities in planet mass ratios and orbital separations.
Stunning stat: The mass ratio of the second planet differs by a factor of ~10 between degenerate scenarios.
Quick takeaway: The system likely features a super-Jupiter and a Saturn-class planet orbiting a K-dwarf in the Galactic disk.