narag 2 days ago

The planet (TOI-6894b) is a low-density gas giant with a radius a little larger than Saturn’s but with only ~50% of Saturn’s mass.

IIRC Saturn has very low density, was it lower than water? (IOW it would float) so this would be even lighter.

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kbelder 2 days ago

I understand how they measure mass, but how do they measure an exoplanet's radius, especially to that precision?

teamonkey 2 days ago

Not sure in this specific case, but usually by measuring the brightness of the star as the planet passes in front of it, like a partial eclipse. That’s why most of the planets we have discovered are giants.

dotancohen 2 days ago

I did not read this paper, but typically the diameter can be inferred by the transit time.

nilamo 2 days ago

Sounds less like a planet, and more like a nebula.