NASA’s TESS, Spitzer Missions Discover World Orbiting Unique Young Star

The video discusses the discovery of a planet, AU Mic b, orbiting the young red dwarf star AU Mic, located 32 light years away. AU Mic b is slightly larger than Neptune and orbits close to its star. The discovery was made using transit detection methods by TESS and confirmed by Spitzer. The video highlights the challenges faced due to the star's flares and brightness variations. AU Mic serves as a valuable site for studying planetary and stellar evolution. Future missions aim to explore AU Mic b's atmosphere and search for more planets in the system.

What type of star is AU Mic, and how does its age compare to our Sun?

• A red giant, much older than our Sun

• A red dwarf, much younger than our Sun

• A white dwarf, similar in age to our Sun

• A blue giant, slightly younger than our Sun

How does the size of AU Mic b compare to Neptune?

• It is about 8% smaller than Neptune

• It is about 8% larger than Neptune

• It is about the same size as Neptune

• It is twice the size of Neptune

What method was used to discover AU Mic b?

• Gravitational lensing

• Direct imaging

• Transit method

• Radial velocity

What challenge did scientists face when searching for AU Mic b?

• The planet's orbit was too far from the star

• The star's flares and phenomena altered its brightness

• The planet was too small to detect

• The star's brightness was too dim

What future potential does AU Mic offer for scientific study?

• It can provide insights into the development of planetary atmospheres

• It can help in the search for extraterrestrial life

• It can help understand the formation of black holes

• It can reveal the secrets of dark matter