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Astro Brief: An Improbable Exoplanet

NASA/JPL (Eyes on Exoplanets)

TESS uncovers a hot Neptune within a Neptunian desert.

TOI-3261 b is a rare Neptune-like exoplanet due to its extremely close orbit around its star. The exoplanet was discovered in 2024 by Dr. Emma Nabbie and collaborators at the University of Southern Queensland in Australia using the transit method as it passed between the TESS space telescope and its star.

Join us this week as Mike delves into this recent unusual discovery.

Astro Brief is a collaboration between KSMU, the Missouri Space Grant, and MSU's Department of Physics, Astronomy and Materials Science. Hosted by Dr. Mike Reed, Astro Brief focuses on astronomical events, the field of astronomy, and astronomy-related guests. It airs Thursdays at 9:45 am on KSMU.

Distinguished Professor of the Missouri State University Department of Physics, Astronomy and Materials Science.