Discovery of NGTS-38 b: A rare warm super-Jupiter with a 180-day orbit

Star system: NGTS-38 | Distance from the Sun: 872 light years

Astronomers have discovered a massive gas giant planet, NGTS-38 b, orbiting a bright, metal-rich star similar to our Sun but slightly hotter. This 'warm super-Jupiter' stands out due to its unusually long orbital period of 180.5 days, which is much longer than most planets discovered by the transit method. 

Unlike the scorched 'hot Jupiters' that orbit their stars in just a few days, NGTS-38 b maintains a relatively cool equilibrium temperature. The planet was identified using data from the TESS space telescope and confirmed through over 200 nights of ground-based observations, revealing a world with a significant mass and a slightly stretched, eccentric orbit.

Scientific study

TIC-65910228 b / NGTS-38 b, a 180 day transiting warm super-Jupiter (external link)