A Cosmic Breakthrough: KMT-2018-BLG-0029Lb and OGLE-2019-BLG-0960Lb

In an astounding astronomical revelation, researchers have unveiled KMT-2018-BLG-0029Lb and OGLE-2019-BLG-0960Lb as the lightest mass-ratio microlensing planets known to date. Their findings suggest these celestial bodies reside in systems that are not only farther away but also more massive than originally presumed based on ground observations.

Detecting the Undetected: A Breakthrough with Keck Adaptive Optics

Utilizing cutting-edge Keck Adaptive Optics imaging, scientists discovered excess light aligning with the locations of these events. This light matches the anticipated brightness of the main-sequence stars hosting the planets but diverges from the predictions made using the Spitzer Space Telescope.

Revealing Masses: Unveiling the Planets’ True Natures

Analysis shows that KMT-2018-BLG-0029Lb is a planet weighing approximately 4.2 times that of Earth, orbiting a host star of about 0.70 solar masses, positioned about 3.1 astronomical units away. In contrast, OGLE-2019-BLG-0960Lb is slightly lighter, estimated at 2.0 Earth masses, orbiting a host star of 0.40 solar masses at a distance of 1.7 astronomical units.

Navigating Complexity: Breaking the Degeneracy