Teenager Discovers a New Planet
Can you imagine being a teenager and discovering a whole new planet? That’s what happened to 17-year-old Wolf Cukier of New York when he was serving as a NASA intern in 2019!
It’s exciting to think about planets in other solar systems and what we may find on them. We often read about new planet discoveries, and scientists are developing new ways to find them (see this article to learn more). The planet Wolf discovered is special because it is one of the few planets found that orbits two stars. Dr. Steve Scotti reached out to Wolf for Brilliant Star and asked him to tell us about himself and about discovering a new planet, and to share his thoughts on science and STEM.
Q: Can you tell our readers in your own words about your discovery?
So what I helped to discover was a circumbinary planet—a planet that orbits two stars. If you have seen Star Wars, you might remember Tatooine, Luke Skywalker's home world. This planet is like that—it has two stars in the sky.
The two stars of TOI 1338 b circle each other, creating an eclipse every 15 days.
Q: How did you know that it was a significant discovery?
My role was just to flag interesting targets for my mentor, Veselin Kostov, to look at. TOI 1338 was what I was most confident in. But it was Veselin who told me that what I flagged was likely a planet and explained the significance of the discovery to me.
Q: The planet is called TOI 1338 b. If you could give it a name, what would you call it?
I don't have a name in mind, but my brother's suggestion is Wolftopia. I don’t particularly like this name, as it is just Wolf + City.
Q: Do you think that there is life on the planet you discovered?
No. It is too hot. The orbital period of TOI 1338 is comparable to Mercury, and the brighter of the two stars is hotter than the sun.
Q: How did you get interested in astronomy?
I have probably always been interested in science. My mom was trained as a geologist and passed this love of science on to me. I joined the Science Olympiad team in middle school and still continue that in high school today. The Science Research program at my high school allowed me to explore my interests and provided support for getting an internship.
The thing that probably interests me most about astronomy is how accessible the feeling of the unknown is. Almost anyone can look up at the sky and wonder what is up there.
Q: Other than finding a new planet, what did you enjoy most about your experience as a NASA intern?
I enjoyed seeing how the scientific process works—the number of people involved in each project, the amount of work that goes into confirming the planet, etc.
NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center in Maryland, U.S., where Wolf worked as an intern for two months.
Q: If you could discover the answer to one big mystery about space, what would you most like to know?
I would like to know where the closest extraterrestrial life is—if it exists.
Q: Do you think humans will live on another planet someday? If so, when?
No idea if or when, but I hope so.
Q: What are your goals for your career?
My first step is going to college. I have no idea where I’ll end up, but research is a big possibility.
Q: Why do you think it’s important for kids to explore STEM?
The kids who explore STEM today will be the researchers who help cure cancer or make other big breakthroughs in the future.
Q: What advice would you give kids who want to become scientists or astronomers?
I would tell kids to start doing science—join a club at school to study science or build robots that interest you. If you really want to get involved, the TESS (Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite) data is publicly available. If you have a computer and internet connection, go to Planet Hunters TESS and start searching for planets. [Talk about it with your parents first.]
Images: NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center / Chris Smith (USRA); NASA Goddard/Bill Hrybyk; Grandfailure
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