TESS Discovers Longest-Orbit Exoplanet in NASA's Latest Findings

Astronomers using NASA's Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS) have discovered a rare system containing two long-period planets orbiting the star TOI-4600, located 815 light years away from Earth. The inner planet has an 82-day orbit, similar to Mercury, while the outer planet has a 482-day orbit, placing it between Earth and Mars. These gas giants bridge the gap between "hot Jupiters" and the colder, longer-period gas giants in our solar system. The discovery provides valuable insights into the formation and composition of planets with longer orbital periods.