News from our department

An ultra-hot Jupiter orbiting a pulsating star

The planet only needs two days to orbit its star, a pulsating gas giant. But this makes the light curve asymmetrical.

Hot, dark and no air

GJ 367b - reloaded

Among the exoplanets, GJ 367 b is a flyweight, but with a relatively large iron core. Measurements with JWST show further characteristics: a hot, dark planet without an air atmosphere.

First PLATO field selected

PLATO's first field of observation was selected by the Science Working Team in July 2023. It is located in the southern hemisphere, around the star Canopus, a bright star in the constellation Carina. PLATO will observe this field for at least two years, but perhaps also three or four years - depending on the yield.

Dimethyl sulphide: a sign of life on the exoplanet K2-18b?

Only marine phytoplankton produces dimethyl sulfid on Earth. Is this molcule present in the atmosphere of the planet K2-18b?

First PLATO camera installed on the optical bench

OHB in Oberpfaffenhofen is starting to integrate the PLATO cameras on the optical bench. The first of 26 cameras has now been mounted on the optical bench in the clean room of the OHB in Oberfpaffenhofen. The integration of the whole set will be ready by the end of the year.

Getting closer to the explanation of how giant planets can form around M-dwarfs

A giant planet was detected in the binary star system TOI-6383. Only a few systems like this are known. The detection of the planet and the characterization of the system will help to constrain the formation and evolution of such systems.

Flight Model of the Readout Electronics for PLATO's Fast Cameras

As PLATO's launch approaches, more and more parts of optics and electronics are being finalized. Recently, the flight models for PLATO's fast cameras which are crucial for the precise alignment of the telescope.