Space

Suspected Second-generation Planet Solves NASA Hubble Cold Case

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Briefings

Astronomers using NASA's Hubble Space Telescope identified a second-generation planet orbiting the white dwarf star HS 0209+0832, a remnant of a low-mass star that has exhausted its nuclear fuel. Published in Nature Astronomy on October 5, 2026, the study highlights a high abundance of niobium in the system, an element not previously detected in white dwarfs. This finding suggests the planet formed from the star's ejected material rather than its birth, potentially undergoing atmospheric loss due to the star's intense heat. The research combines Hubble's 1999 observations with data from the FUSE and TESS missions to confirm the planet's existence and orbital distance of approximately 3.7 million miles.

Key points

• Astronomers discovered a second-generation planet orbiting the white dwarf star HS 0209+0832 using Hubble Space Telescope data from 1999, confirmed by FUSE and TESS missions.
• The presence of niobium in the system indicates the planet formed from the star's ejected material rather than its original birth material, as niobium is not formed in stellar cores but in dying stars.

Context and limitations

The study relies on archival Hubble data and limited spectroscopic analysis of the white dwarf system. The specific atmospheric composition of the planet and its long-term stability remain unconfirmed due to the lack of direct observations.

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