The study, led by experts from the IAA-CSIC based in Granada, has identified these celestial bodies orbiting K-type stars. This finding is significant for the scientific community as it expands knowledge about sub-Neptunes, the most common planets in the Milky Way, whose composition remains a challenge to study.
The research, published in the journal Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, notes that two of the planets are located in a region of the universe where few previous detections have been recorded. This area, known as the Neptune desert, presents conditions that complicate observation, making these new worlds key references for future mass measurements and atmospheric analysis.
To achieve this breakthrough, the team used data from the TESS Follow-up Observing Program (TFOP), as well as complementary observations made with the MuSCAT2 instrument, located at the Teide Observatory. The choice of K-type stars, although more complex to analyze than M-dwarfs, was essential to validate the existence of these planetary systems.
