Astronomers know why this exoplanet mysteriously disappeared

TOI-2535 b is an exoplanet classified as a hot Jupiter located about 1,000 light-years from Earth. After studying this exoplanet for several years, astronomers have been able to determine the cause of its strange behavior.

Indeed, the TESS satellite observed this exoplanet from April 2019 through March 2026. But by analyzing these observations, researchers realized that its transits were irregular. They were up to six hours early or late, while its average orbital period is 8.25 days. In addition, in March 2026, TESS no longer detected any changes in the star's brightness caused by this exoplanet, suggesting that it had disappeared.

However, when studying the satellite data, astronomers found evidence that TOI-2535 b was being pulled by another exoplanet, and vice versa. According to Samuel Yee of the University of California, Los Angeles, while this phenomenon is not unique, it may be the most extreme ever observed: 

"This is the most extreme example we've seen because the two planets are interacting so strongly. The planet's orbit is tilting so quickly that its transit disappeared while we were watching."

As for the origin of its current orbit, two hypotheses have been put forward. It may have been pushed by violent gravitational interactions or gradually migrated inward through a protoplanetary disk. And it appears that the second hypothesis is the most likely one to date.