The James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) has made remarkable contributions to our understanding of the universe since its operational debut. However, it has yet to detect any exomoons, theoretical moons orbiting exoplanets in distant star systems. A new study led by astronomer David Kipping from Columbia University suggests that while JWST has not found exomoons, it has the capability to do so under the right conditions.
Investigating LP 890-9 c
In his recent pre-print paper available on arXiv, Dr. Kipping focused on the exoplanet LP 890-9 c, which orbits an ultra-cool red dwarf star approximately 105 light years away. This planet has a notably short orbital period of 8.46 days, placing it in the habitable zone of its host star. The study utilized data from twelve different transits of LP 890-9 c, a significant increase from previous attempts that relied on single transit observations.
Challenges of Detection
Previous efforts to identify exomoons faced significant challenges due to red noise, a type of interference caused by gradual changes in the telescope’s instruments or by the star itself. These fluctuations can obscure the signals that indicate the presence of smaller moons. Dr. Kipping’s analysis revealed that by averaging data from multiple transits, the effects of red noise could be minimized, enhancing the sensitivity of the search.
Results and Implications
Despite the innovative approach, the study concluded with a null result, confirming with 95% confidence that no moons larger than 0.1 Earth radii orbit LP 890-9 c. This finding suggests that potential moons similar to Io, Europa, or Enceladus do not exist around this exoplanet. The harsh gravitational environment, due to LP 890-9 c’s proximity of 0.04 AU to its star, likely prevents the formation or survival of moons.
Dr. Kipping emphasized that this study serves as a proof of concept, demonstrating that JWST is capable of detecting relatively small moons if astronomers can observe multiple transits. However, securing time on JWST remains a significant challenge, as its observational time is highly sought after for various astronomical inquiries. The study opens a pathway for future searches for exomoons, contingent on the availability of telescope time.
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