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19 January 2026
A Discovery Long Out of Reach
This breakthrough could redefine the field of global astronomy. An international team of researchers has located a previously concealed planet and a brown dwarf, often called a “failed star.” These finds are exceptionally rare; only about 1% of stars host such massive companions that current telescopes can successfully capture.
Advanced Tech Reveals What Was Once Invisible
Finding these celestial bodies requires both immense patience and cutting-edge technology. Astronomers combined these elements by pairing the Subaru Telescope with the OASIS survey. This system targets specific locations where unknown objects might hide, allowing the team to pinpoint and directly image these hidden cosmic giants.
Space Fact:
A single teaspoon of neutron star material would weigh as much as Mount Everest—roughly six billion tons. This incredible density occurs when the mass of the Sun is compressed into an object only 12–15 miles in diameter.
A single teaspoon of neutron star material would weigh as much as Mount Everest—roughly six billion tons. This incredible density occurs when the mass of the Sun is compressed into an object only 12–15 miles in diameter.
The Massive HIP b: A New Frontier
The first major revelation is a gargantuan planet named HIP b, located 271 light-years away in the constellation Leo. Its scale is staggering—it is nearly 18 times more massive than Jupiter.
As a young gas giant, HIP b still retains immense heat from its formation. In the infrared spectrum, these “super-Jupiters” emit such powerful thermal radiation that they can actually rival or even outshine their host stars, especially when those stars are faint red dwarfs.
Neither Planet nor Star: The Significance of HIP 71618 B
The second newly identified object is HIP 71618 B, located 169 light-years away. With a mass roughly 60 times that of Jupiter, this brown dwarf represents the link between planets and stars. These “failed stars” form like suns but never gain enough mass to ignite nuclear fusion. However, their internal heat makes them prominent targets for infrared telescopes.
Why They Remained Hidden
Both objects were notoriously difficult to find. The primary challenge wasn’t just the distance, but the specific conditions of their systems. For years, astronomers looked for planets obscured by stellar glare, not realizing that in some cases, the planet’s own thermal glow could blend into the background of a low-power star. The Subaru-OASIS combination finally allowed researchers to separate these signals.
Future Breakthroughs May Arrive Sooner Than Expected
The method used to find this new planet and brown dwarf offers hope for rapid progress. NASA’s Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope will soon become the ultimate tool in this quest.
The Roman Telescope can detect objects up to 10 billion times fainter than their hosts in visible light, but its infrared capabilities will be key to finding more hidden cosmic giants. What were once mere dreams for astronomers are now becoming reality as we peel back the layers of the infrared universe.
Read this article in Polish: Ukryte olbrzymy kosmosu. Odkryto planetę i „nieudaną gwiazdę”
