News
Knowing the Magnetic Field of an Exoplanet’s Star is Essential to Determining the True Size of the Exoplanet
In a groundbreaking study led by the Max Planck Institute for Solar System Research (MPS), astronomers have proposed a novel way to determine the true size of an exoplanet. This new method involves taking into account the magnetic field of the star around which the exoplanet orbits. The research, published in Nature Astronomy, sheds light on a significant factor that has been overlooked in previous studies of exoplanets.
The study focused on the exoplanet WASP-39b, a gas giant discovered orbiting a G-type star by the Wide Angle Search for Planets (WASP) consortium. WASP-39b, also known as “Bocaprins,” is one of the many “hot Jupiters” found in close proximity to its parent star. The researchers observed that traditional methods of analyzing light curves to determine the size of exoplanets were hindered by a discrepancy in the data.
Dr. Nadiia M. Kostogryz and her team of international collaborators from institutions such as Heidelberg University, Keele University, MIT, and STScI found that including the star’s magnetic field in their calculations helped resolve the discrepancies in the observational data. By considering the impact of the star’s magnetic field on the light curves, the researchers were able to accurately determine the size of the exoplanet.
The researchers used data from NASA’s Kepler Space Telescope to model the effects of the star’s magnetic field on the observed light curves. They found that the presence of a magnetic field influenced the shape of the light curve, particularly the limb darkening effect caused by the outer layers of the star appearing darker to the observer. By incorporating the magnetic field into their calculations, the researchers were able to reproduce the observational data more accurately.
Furthermore, the study revealed that the strength of the star’s magnetic field had a significant impact on limb darkening, with stars possessing stronger magnetic fields exhibiting less pronounced limb darkening. The researchers also extended their simulations to include data from the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) and found that the magnetic field influenced limb darkening differently at various wavelengths.
These findings have important implications for the field of exoplanet research, as they provide a new framework for determining the true size of exoplanets based on the magnetic field of their parent stars. Dr. Alexander Shapiro, a coauthor of the study, emphasized the importance of refining models to interpret data from space telescopes like JWST.
Looking ahead, the researchers plan to apply their method to stars beyond the Sun, potentially leading to more accurate estimates of exoplanet characteristics, including mass for rocky planets similar to Earth. Additionally, the study highlights the potential for using light curves of stars to constrain the strength of their magnetic fields, a challenging measurement.
This groundbreaking research opens up new possibilities for understanding exoplanets and their host stars, paving the way for more precise and in-depth studies in the future.
References: MPS, Nature Astronomy
News
Is now the right time to invest in gold as prices have cooled?
The price of gold has climbed to record highs recently and has remained strong through much of April. And, that growth continued until the precious metal traded at around $2,390 per ounce on April 19, 2024. But since, growth in the price of the precious metal has cooled, with gold’s price now hovering around $2,300 per ounce.
This lull in gold’s price may represent an investment opportunity.
In general, investing is centered around buying assets when prices are low and selling them when prices are high – generating a profit on the difference between the two. So, considering the declines in gold’s price over the past few days, now may be the time to make your investment. But is buying gold during this lull in prices really a good idea?
Compare your gold investment options among leading brokers now.
Gold prices have cooled. Should you buy in now?
With gold’s price down from recent highs, you may be wondering if now is the right time to buy in. There are several reasons the dip in gold’s price may represent an opportunity to buy. Here are some of the biggest:
Prices may rise again
If looking at a gold price chart shows anything for certain, it shows that changes in the overall growth of the medal come in fits and spurts. Periods of price growth are typically followed by periods of declines and vice versa.
But with inflation rising in recent months – and with gold’s reputation as a safe-haven asset that can hedge against inflation – it only makes sense that the price of the precious metal will eventually start to head up again in the future. While attempting to time that directional change may be tricky, buying the precious metal while the price is down gives you the opportunity to take advantage of any upward movement that may be ahead.
Add gold to your portfolio now before prices have a chance to rise.
You may be able to make a quick profit
Gold isn’t known as an asset in which you can earn a quick return, but in today’s market, that may be the case. Don’t forget that in January, gold was trading at just $2,000 per ounce. And, by mid-April, the commodity’s price had climbed to around $2,400 per ounce. That’s about 20% growth in a matter of months, much of which happened since March 1 – an impressive climb for any investment asset.
Perhaps more importantly, gold’s price growth through the beginning of 2024 shows that the commodity doesn’t have to be a buy and hold style investment that you keep in a safety deposit box or precious metal depository for years to come. There’s also the possibility that the commodity’s price could climb further ahead, making it a compelling way to potentially generate a quick profit.
There are other benefits of investing in gold
There are other benefits of investing in gold that have little to do with the price growth seen thus far in 2024 – or the lull in prices seen over the past couple of days. Those benefits include:
- Inflation protection: Gold has long been considered an inflation hedge, and for good reason. When inflation drives the prices of consumer goods and services up – and the value of the dollar down – gold’s price tends to rise. So, it could be used to maintain the value of your portfolio during inflationary economic conditions. That’s important in today’s economic environment as stubborn inflation continues to weigh on the value of the dollar.
- Portfolio diversification: Gold’s price doesn’t always move in the same pattern that bonds or stocks do. So, mixing a reasonable amount of gold into your portfolio (up to 10% of your portfolio assets) as a diversifier could protect you from losses should one or more of your traditional portfolio assets fall in value. “If you have less than 5% – 10% of your net worth in commodities & FX (forex), you should absolutely consider adding exposure to gold and other precious metals,” says Vijay Marolia, money manager and managing partner at the wealth management firm, Regal Point Capital.
The bottom line
Gold’s price has fallen from recent highs – which may represent an opportunity to tap into growth ahead. However, gold isn’t simply a “buy while it’s low and sell while it’s a high” kind of investment opportunity. The commodity can also protect your portfolio from the stubborn inflation we’ve seen thus far in 2024 while acting as a diversification tool that could increase your risk-adjusted portfolio returns. So, consider adding gold to your portfolio today while it has the potential to grow in value.
-
News1 week ago
Juno discovers massive lava lake on Io
-
News1 week ago
Kevin McCarthy, former House Speaker, seeks revenge
-
News1 week ago
Possible Future Colleague of Trump: David Lammy, a Close Associate of Obama
-
News2 weeks ago
Additional Perspectives on the 2024 Eclipse: Views from the Moon and Earth’s Orbit
-
News2 weeks ago
House speaker receives additional request from GOP member to resign or be ousted
-
Entertainment1 week ago
Bethenny Frankel reveals that her mother Bernadette Birk passed away from lung cancer
-
News2 weeks ago
Forest Lawn Drive now free of RV encampment and parking
-
News6 days ago
Is now the right time to invest in gold as prices have cooled?