2023-05-23 22:33:00
An exoplanet similar in size to Earth was discovered in the constellation of Cups, regarding 90 light-years away from Earth, where volcanic eruptions are presumed to occur actively on the surface, like Jupiter’s satellite (moon) ‘Io’, and reported to the academic world.
This planet has an atmosphere due to volcanic activity, and it is suggested that water, which is considered an essential element for the emergence and maintenance of life, will exist in areas with low temperatures.
Researchers at the Trotier Institute for Extrasolar Planets (iREx) at the University of Montreal published their observations of planet d in the red dwarf LP 791-18 planetary system in the scientific journal ‘Nature’.
| ▲ Artist’s rendering of LP 791-18 d, an exoplanet estimated to be 90 light-years away with active volcanic activity. |
In this planetary system, planet b, which is regarding 20% larger than Earth, and planet c, which is 2.5 times the size of Earth and has 7 times the mass, have already been discovered.
The d planet has been identified as slightly larger than Earth in size and mass.
When this planet orbits, it passes close to planet c. At this time, it has an elliptical orbit under the influence of huge gravity, and whenever it gets close to the star, deformation occurs within the planet, creating friction, causing heat to accumulate and causing volcanic activity on the surface. analyzed
Even on Io, which is closest to Jupiter, the gravitational pull of Jupiter and other moons is similar, so volcanic activity is actively taking place on the surface.
LP 791-18 d is located at the beginning of a life-sustainable zone where water does not evaporate on the surface and can exist in a liquid state. It has been suggested that water may condense.
“LP 791-18 d is a ‘co-rotation’ planet, with only one side facing the star,” said study co-author Dr. Bjorn Beneke, professor of astronomy at iREx. Volcanic activity, which we presume is happening everywhere, will keep the atmosphere and allow water to condense on the surface of the night,” he explained.
Planet c of the LP 791-18 planetary system has already been approved for observation by the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST), which is recognized for its performance as a next-generation telescope. Planet d is also expected to be an extraordinary candidate for atmospheric research with the Webb telescope. Looking forward to it.
“The biggest question in astrobiology is whether geological structures or volcanic activity are essential for the emergence of life,” said Dr. Jesse Christiansen of NASA’s Center for Extraterrestrial Science. It can act as a stirrer so that substances that are considered to be can sink and not be trapped in the earth’s crust.”
The research team captured the decrease in starlight when the planet passed in front of the star, ‘transit’, along with observation data from NASA’s satellite ‘TESS’, which visited the exoplanet, and the ‘Spitzer Space Telescope’ and the ground. Telescopic data was also used.
Spitzer, who has been conducting infrared observations, is said to have observed the LP 791-18 planetary system in the last observation made ahead of retirement in January 2020.
Science Team [email protected]
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