NASA Scientists Say Hidden Planets Lurking Around Tiny Stars Could be Revealed Using Gravitational Waves

A new space-based observatory, LISA, developed to detect gravitational waves may also help astronomers detect hidden objects around distant stars, potentially revealing new populations of exoplanets. The mission, led by the European Space Agency with participation from NASA, is scheduled to launch in the mid-2030s and will use a trio of spacecraft in a triangular formation to detect subtle distortions in space-time. The studies suggest that LISA may be able to detect planets orbiting small, dense white dwarf stars, which are remnants of Sun-like stars. This could lead to the discovery of up to 10,000 double white dwarf systems and potentially 100 mixed binary systems containing neutron stars or black holes.

• LISA’s sensitive instruments are expected to detect gravitational wobbles caused by exoplanets orbiting white dwarfs.
• The mission could help confirm the existence of exoplanets around white dwarf binary systems.
• The two studies, published in The Astrophysical Journal, propose that LISA could revolutionize the detection of exoplanets and other celestial objects.
• The findings may help uncover new planetary systems that have been undetected by existing telescopes.

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