Astronomers have discovered two of the lightest giant planets ever found, located about 1,100 light-years from Earth in a distant star system. The newly identified gas planets, named TOI-791b and TOI-791c, were first detected by volunteers from NASA’s Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite project. Despite being similar in size to Jupiter, their masses are only 3 to 6 percent of Jupiter’s, making their densities comparable to aerogel, the lightest man-made material.
The research, led by Oxford University astrophysicist George Dransfield, describes these planets as 'super-puffs'—gas giants with extremely small cores that defy conventional planetary formation models. The phenomenon challenges existing theories, as such small cores should not be able to retain vast gaseous atmospheres. The term 'super-puff' was first introduced in 2016 by astrophysicist Eve J. Lee, who suggested that these planets form only under very specific cold and dust-free conditions.
Scientists plan to use the James Webb Space Telescope to study the structure and composition of these planets in greater detail, though a complete understanding of their motion may take nearly a century.
আমার দেশ অনলাইন প্রকাশ : ১৯ জুলাই ২০২৬, ১২: ০৫আপডেট : ১৯ জুলাই ২০২৬, ১২: ১৭ মহাবিশ্বে এযাবৎকালের সবচেয়ে হালকা দুটি দানবীয় গ্রহের খোঁজ পেয়েছেন জ্যোতির্বিজ্ঞানীরা। পৃথিবী থেকে প্রায় ১ হাজার ১০০ আলোকবর্ষ দূরে একটি নক্ষত্রমণ্ডলে এই গ্রহ দুটির অবস্থান। ন
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