TOI-159 b: A hot Jupiter with eccentric orbit around a young, pulsating star

Star system: TOI 159 A | Distance from the Sun: 1137 light years

Astronomers have confirmed TOI-159 b, a giant planet orbiting a young (about 150 million years old), fast-rotating, and pulsating Doradus star. This planet is the hottest known hot Jupiter with a significant orbital eccentricity, making it a rare find. The host star's rapid rotation and pulsations make such discoveries challenging, but the team used a combination of radial velocity, transit, and spectro-photometric data to confirm the planet and study its properties.

TOI-159 b orbits in a close binary system and its eccentric orbit was measured with high significance. The researchers also generated a low-resolution transmission spectrum to search for signs of a planetary atmosphere, but the current data is too coarse for firm conclusions. Higher-resolution observations are needed to determine if the observed spectral features are due to the planet's atmosphere or contamination from the star.

Key findings
- TOI-159 b is a hot Jupiter with a significant eccentricity around a young, pulsating Doradus star
- The planet orbits in a close binary system
- Its confirmation required disentangling stellar rotation and pulsation effects
- Preliminary atmospheric analysis is inconclusive; better data is needed
- The system provides a rare opportunity to study planet formation and evolution around hot, variable stars

Scientific study

TOI-159 b: an eccentric hot-Jupiter planet around a young, pulsating Doradus star (external link)