Astronomers working on Mauna Kea have identified the first celestial object suitable for testing the imaging technology of NASA’s upcoming Roman Space Telescope, alongside the discovery of a newly identified giant planet. The findings, announced by the W. M. Keck Observatory, mark the first scientific results from the OASIS programme, an international effort that combines precise space-based data with advanced ground-based imaging from the Subaru Telescope to uncover previously hidden worlds.
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Researchers say the results underline the scientific value of pairing Mauna Kea’s exceptional observing conditions with state-of-the-art instruments. Thayne Currie, principal investigator of OASIS and a professor at the University of Texas at San Antonio, said the discoveries demonstrate the potential of this combined approach to reveal faint and elusive objects.
One of the newly identified bodies is a brown dwarf, often described as a “failed star” because it forms like a star but lacks the mass required to ignite nuclear fusion. Known as HIP 71618 B, it lies around 169 light-years away in the constellation Boötes. Although too faint to be seen with the naked eye, the object was detected using infrared observations from both the Keck Observatory and the Subaru Telescope. A year of follow-up observations allowed astronomers to determine its orbit.
Crucially, the brown dwarf meets the demanding criteria needed to test the Roman Space Telescope’s instruments, which are designed to image Earth-like planets billions of times fainter than their host stars. Mona El Morsy, lead author of the study and a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Texas at San Antonio, said the discovery would help prepare the astronomical community for the mission and could lead to the identification of many more suitable systems.
The team also discovered a massive planet, designated HIP 54515 b, orbiting a star roughly 271 light-years away in the constellation Leo. Its orbit is comparable in scale to Neptune’s distance from the Sun, yet from Earth the planet appears extremely close to its star, likened by researchers to spotting a football from more than 200 miles away. According to the observatory, the Subaru Telescope’s advanced imaging system provided the clarity needed to detect the faint planet beside its bright star, while Keck’s extensive archive of data was vital in accurately interpreting the observations.
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Scientists involved in OASIS say the twin discoveries highlight the strength of combining space-based measurements with Mauna Kea’s powerful imaging capabilities. The programme is expected to reveal additional planets and brown dwarf companions, with further announcements anticipated in 2026, alongside new observations of these latest finds.
