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Scientists take spotted a few thousand exoplanets, or planets orbiting stars other than our sun. Exomoons are some other story. In that location have been some potential exomoons, but nix definitive. Now, a squad from Columbia University thinks it might take the first solid evidence of a moon outside our solar system, and Hubble is going to give it a expect.

While nosotros haven't been able to place any exomoons in the past, we have every reason to think they exist. After all, most planets in our solar arrangement take at to the lowest degree one moon. In the example of gas giants, there can be dozens of moons. Many of the exoplanets that can be reliably detected by electric current methods are gas giants, so there ought to be moons. Alex Teachey and David Kipping at Republic of colombia may have establish testify of ane in data from the planet-hunting Kepler spacecraft.

The exoplanet in question is known as Kepler 1625b and orbits a star about 4,000 light-years away. The potential exomoon has been dubbed "Kepler 1625b i." The Kepler mission uses the transit method of detecting exoplanets. Equally a planet passes in front of its star, Kepler registers a pocket-size driblet in luminance. By analyzing the repeating pattern of these drops, scientists can determine a planet's size, orbital characteristics, and temperature. In the example of Kepler 1625b, at that place'due south a 2d, smaller dip in brightness that occurs alee of or behind the main ane, which could indicate a moon in orbit.

The squad analyzed 284 planets looking for exactly this kind of signal, and Kepler 1625b "popped out." The transit method is not sensitive plenty to detect what we would usually recollect of as a "moon," only Kepler 1625b i isn't similar any moon in the solar system. Kepler 1625b is near the size of Jupiter, and mayhap as much as ten times as massive. The exomoon, if information technology exists, could exist the size of the planet Neptune. Thus, information technology's been nicknamed "Neptmoon." Something that large is within the detection limits of Kepler, but many smaller moons would still go unnoticed.

Hubble in orbit

Kepler 1625b volition transit in front of its star again on Oct 29th, and the team intends to exist watching with the Hubble telescope when that happens. This could offer proof that Neptmoon is indeed a giant moon in orbit of Kepler 1625b.

Astronomers are not bad to prove that exomoons exist considering these objects are considered a potential abode for alien life in orbit of uninhabitable gas giants. Future instruments similar the Webb Telescope should likewise help place smaller exomoons that are more hospitable to life as we know it.

Now read: The 25 Best Hubble Infinite Telescope Images