Discovery Of Hidden Exoplanet Kepler 139f

Scientists found hidden exoplanet Kepler-139f by studying orbital disruptions in the Kepler-139 system. The Neptune-sized world (35x Earth’s mass) evaded detection because it doesn’t transit its star. NASA’s Kepler telescope initially spotted three inner super-Earths via transits, while radial velocity (RV) revealed gas giant Kepler-139e. Gaps in orbits hinted at another planet. By analyzing transit timing variations (TTVs)—subtle shifts caused by unseen gravitational pulls—researchers inferred Kepler-139f’s presence between the outermost super-Earth and the gas giant. The discovery also corrected density misestimates of Kepler-139c, as prior data had conflated its pull with Kepler-139f’s. While current methods favor close-orbiting or massive planets, combining TTVs, RVs, and transits helps uncover distant, non-transiting worlds. Future missions like ESA’s PLATO (2026) will refine TTV measurements, exposing more hidden exoplanets.

https://www.space.com/astronom....y/astronomers-discov