Research News
NARIT Reveals Exoplanet Atmosphere Findings
from Decade-Long Observations Using Thai National and Robotic Telescopes
A research team from the National Astronomical Research Institute of Thailand (NARIT), under the Ministry of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation, has revealed new findings on the atmosphere of the exoplanet WASP-11 b/HAT-P-10 b based on nearly a decade of observations.
Led by Napaporn A-thano and Supachai Awiphan in collaboration with international partners, the team analyzed 31 transit events collected through NARIT’s telescope network, combined with data from the Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS). The study was published in The Astronomical Journal in April 2026.
WASP-11 b/HAT-P-10 b is a gas giant classified as a hot Jupiter, orbiting a K-dwarf star in a three-star system. The planet completes an orbit in just 3.72 days and has an atmospheric temperature of around 1,000 Kelvin, making it well suited for atmospheric studies using transmission spectroscopy.
The research draws on observations from multiple facilities, including the 2.4-meter Thai National Telescope on Doi Inthanon, regional observatories across Thailand, and the Thai Robotic Telescope network operating in China and the United States.
One key dataset comes from observations conducted by Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn during a visit to the National Observatory in 2016. Using a remotely operated telescope in China, the observations helped improve the precision of the planet’s orbital timing.
Analysis of transit timing variations using data spanning up to 16 years shows that the planet’s orbit remains stable, with no evidence of additional bodies affecting its motion.
The team also detected signs of Rayleigh scattering in the planet’s atmosphere. This effect causes the planet to appear larger at blue wavelengths and suggests the presence of high-altitude clouds or haze, similar to what has been observed in WASP-6 b and HAT-P-12 b.
These findings improve understanding of hot Jupiter atmospheres and highlight the capability of NARIT’s telescope network to contribute to long-term international research.
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Reference: Investigation of Transit Timing and an Optical Transmission Spectrum of the Hot Jupiter WASP-11 b, A-thano et al. (2026), arXiv:2604.05570v1
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