Submitted photo NASA has done a hypothetical visualization of Wolf 327b orbiting its star, Wolf 327.

FREWSBURG — Recently, a new discovery has been made in the astronomy world in the form of a new exoplanet, Wolf 327b, which orbits the nearby red dwarf star, Wolf 327.

The discovery has local connections, as two members of the Martz-Kohl Observatory played a role in it.

Through dedicated observations and research, the Observatory’s Kyle Lynch and Tom Traub played a part in a collaboration with a global network of observatories, leading to the identification of the exoplanet Wolf 327b. An exoplanet, short for extrasolar planet, is any planet that orbits a star other than the Sun, such as Wolf 327b orbiting Wolf 327 in this case.

Wolf 327, located approximately 93 light-years away in the constellation Leo Minor, is a red dwarf star, significantly smaller than the Sun, with a diameter about 40 percent of the solar system’s central star. The newly discovered planet, Wolf 327b, is estimated to be about 1.8 times the diameter of Earth and travels around its host star in a short amount of time, 13.7 hours. This close proximity suggests it is likely a hot world.

“The detection of these transit signals requires careful observation and analysis,” Traub said. “It’s a testament to the power of collaboration and the dedication of observers worldwide that we can uncover these distant worlds.”

The discovery was made possible through the use of the observatory’s 24-inch telescope using the technique of transit photometry. As each planet passes directly between its star and the observer, it blocks a tiny fraction of the star’s light, causing a periodic dip in brightness. These subtle light variations, or transits, are detectable by sensitive instruments. The Observatory noted that this is similar to when the transits of Venus and Mercury occasionally can be seen against the face of the sun from Earth.

The Wolf 327 system is continuing to be monitored by the research team, who continue to work on things such as refining the measurements of the sizes and orbital periods of the exoplanet, as well as searching for any possible others. These ongoing observations will provide a more detailed understanding of the architecture and characteristics of the planetary system.

According to the Martz-Kohl Observatory, only a very small number of exoplanets are directly visible by the Hubble or James Webb space telescopes. The vast majority of exoplanet discoveries rely on indirect methods that detect the subtle influences these distant worlds have on their stars or the light received from them. These methods allow astronomers to not only discover exoplanets but also to learn about their sizes, masses, orbits, and even the composition of their atmospheres.

Additionally, the observatory said the fact that some of their members were involved in the discovery of Wolf 327b highlights the importance of citizen science in expanding the knowledge of the universe, and the valuable contributions that amateur astronomers can make to scientific research through collaboration.

“It’s incredibly exciting to contribute to the forefront of exoplanetary science from our local observatory,” Lynch said. “Being able to collaborate with a network of observers and researchers has opened up amazing opportunities for amateur astronomers like us to participate in real scientific discoveries.”