Cool Companions on Ultrawide Orbits

COCONUTS-2b

The COol Companions ON Ultrawide orbiTS (COCONUTS) program is a large-scale survey for wide-orbit planetary and substellar companions considered the first survey of this type of celestial bodies.[1] In 2021, the team announced COCONUTS-2b, the closest exoplanet directly imaged ever.[2] The program is a dedicated large-scale search for wide-orbit giant planets and brown dwarf companions, targeting a sample of 300,000 stars. By using multi-wavelength photometry and multi-epoch astrometry, astronomers are able to assess the candidates' companionship and ultracool nature.[3]

  1. ^ Zhang, Z.; Liu, M.; Magnier, E. (2020-01-01). "COCONUTS: COol Companions ON Ultrawide orbiTS". American Astronomical Society Meeting Abstracts #235. 235: 148.06. Bibcode:2020AAS...23514806Z. Archived from the original on 2022-04-02. Retrieved 2022-04-02.
  2. ^ Siegel, Ethan. "Astronomers Go Nuts For Closest Exoplanet Directly Imaged Ever: COCONUTS-2b". Forbes. Archived from the original on 2021-11-22. Retrieved 2022-04-02.
  3. ^ Kooser, Amanda. "Massive exoplanet 'Coconuts-2b' could help reveal the secrets of young gas giants". CNET. Archived from the original on 2022-04-02. Retrieved 2022-04-02.