NASA’s Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS) has made a groundbreaking discovery by identifying a new planet, Gaia23bra b, through a method rooted in Einstein’s theory of relativity: gravitational microlensing. This marks the first instance of TESS employing this technique, which opens the door to a new category of planets that could be hidden in its archived data.
According to Diana Dragomir, a professor at the University of New Mexico, “When TESS launched, no one expected it to ever be capable of finding this kind of planet.” The findings were detailed in a paper published on July 1, 2026, in the Astrophysical Journal Letters.
Discovery Details
Gaia23bra b is classified as a super-Jupiter and orbits an orange dwarf star at a distance comparable to that of Jupiter from the Sun. Notably, this star system is located approximately 40,000 light-years away from Earth, significantly beyond TESS’s typical detection range of about 150 light-years.
Microlensing Mechanism
The detection of Gaia23bra b was made possible through the microlensing effect, which occurs when the gravitational field of a massive object, such as a star, bends the light from a more distant star. In this case, both Gaia23bra b and its host star passed in front of a more distant star, creating a magnifying effect that enhanced the brightness of the background star. This phenomenon allowed astronomers to infer the presence of the planet.
As described in the study, the light from the distant star was magnified twice: once by the foreground star and again by Gaia23bra b itself. This double lens effect was crucial in revealing the hidden planet.
Implications for Future Discoveries
Currently, less than 5% of known exoplanets have been discovered through microlensing, and such events are unique, meaning they cannot be observed again. Mallory Harris, a PhD candidate at the University of New Mexico and lead author of the study, noted, “Microlensing events happen once and they’re gone.” However, they present valuable opportunities for discovering smaller planets at greater distances from their stars, potentially including those within the habitable zone.
The successful identification of Gaia23bra b underscores the importance of utilizing multiple complementary telescopes for exoplanet research. The microlensing effect was first detected by the ESA’s Gaia spacecraft, which mapped the Milky Way in three dimensions. This collaboration between TESS and Gaia exemplifies how combining different observational strengths can lead to significant discoveries in the field of astronomy.
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