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TESS just found a planet in a new way—and more may be hiding in its eight years of data

Astrobitica July 1, 2026 (Last updated: July 1, 2026) 1 minute read

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NASA’s TESS mission has identified a planet orbiting a distant star through space-time warping for the first time. This newly found super-Jupiter differs from the typical transiting planets detected by TESS as it orbits far from its host star.

For the first time, NASA’s TESS (Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite) mission has identified a planet orbiting a distant star thanks to its warping of space-time. Unlike the star-hugging transiting planets TESS regularly reveals, the newfound microlensing world is a super-Jupiter orbiting far from its host star.