J1407b is a unique astronomical object, often referred to as a “Super Saturn” because of its massive and elaborate ring system. This celestial body is either a very young giant planet or a brown dwarf, orbiting a young star. Its spectacular rings represent a glimpse into the early stages of satellite formation in other star systems. Understanding its location and discovery helps in appreciating the sheer scale and unusual nature of this distant world.
Pinpointing J1407b’s Location
J1407b orbits the star J1407 (formally 1SWASP J140747.93−394542.6), a young K-type star with about 90% of the Sun’s mass. This system is situated in the southern celestial hemisphere, within the constellation Centaurus, which is Latin for “the Centaur.” Centaurus is a large constellation that also contains the bright stars Alpha Centauri and Beta Centauri.
The system is located approximately 434 light-years away from Earth, a distance that makes direct observation challenging. The host star, J1407, is relatively young. The star’s coordinates place it far from the familiar planets of our solar system.
The Unique Discovery Method
J1407b was identified using the transit method, which analyzes the light from its host star rather than direct imaging. The star J1407 was monitored by the SuperWASP (Super Wide Angle Search for Planets) project, which searches for planets passing in front of their parent stars. The discovery was later confirmed with data from the KELT (Kilodegree Extremely Little Telescope) survey.
The transit observed in 2007 was unlike any planetary transit seen before, as the star’s light dimmed dramatically for an unusually long period of 56 days. The light curve, which plots brightness over time, showed a complex series of dips, with the star’s light dropping by as much as 95% at its deepest point. This deep and prolonged dimming could only be explained by the transit of a massive, complex ring system passing between the star and the Earth.
The initial analysis of this unusual light curve was conducted by astronomers at the University of Rochester in 2012, with subsequent detailed modeling in 2015. The complex pattern of fading and brightening provided an inverse blueprint of the ring structure, revealing the presence of multiple rings and gaps. This unique signature allowed researchers to infer the existence and physical properties of the unseen companion.
Defining Characteristics: The Gargantuan Ring System
J1407b’s colossal ring system earned it the nickname “Super Saturn.” The outer diameter is estimated to be approximately 180 million kilometers, which is larger than the distance between the Earth and the Sun. This makes the ring system roughly 200 to 640 times larger than the rings of Saturn in our solar system.
The rings are modeled to consist of at least 37 distinct rings, suggesting an intricate and dense structure. Scientists estimate that the entire ring system contains a mass equivalent to about one Earth mass of dust and icy particles. If this ring system were placed around Saturn, it would dominate the night sky and appear many times larger than the full Moon.
Within the massive rings, there are distinct, clean gaps. These gaps are hypothesized to be caused by the gravitational influence of recently formed or forming exomoons. One prominent gap suggests the presence of a moon with a mass potentially between that of Mars and Earth, orbiting J1407b and clearing out the ring material.
This ring system is thought to represent an evolutionary stage similar to what the giant planets in our solar system experienced as their moons formed. As the material continues to accrete, the rings are expected to thin out over the next few million years, eventually giving way to a system of satellites. The estimated orbital period for J1407b around its host star is about a decade, which hides this magnificent sight from frequent view.