Jakarta –
Astronomers discovered a planet the same size as Earth orbiting a red dwarf star named Speculoos-3b. Even though it has the same size, this newly discovered exoplanet is known to be very different from Earth.
Reporting from detikINET, Friday (15/11/2024), NASA revealed in a press release that this terrestrial planet was heated by high radiation which caused it to have no atmosphere. There are several explanations that discuss the discovery of Speculoos-3b.
This exoplanet discovery came from the Search for Planets Eclipsing ULtra-cOOl Stars (Speculoos) project. This project is an international telescope network aimed at searching for faint stars in galaxies and the rocky planets that orbit them.
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Based on the Astronomy page, the aim of the Speculoos project is to identify planetary systems and red dwarfs, which are still very numerous in space. Astronomers hope that with this research they can find exoplanets that can be inhabited and have signs of life on them.
Researchers discovered the planet Speculoos-3b when it crossed the star’s surface and eventually caused the star’s light to dim. The transit was detected by the global Speculoos network of robotic telescopes.
It is known that data from the discovery of Speculooss-3b could lead to further research using the James Webb space telescope. The planet’s configuration and location are still the subject of further research.
“We are making great strides in the study of planets orbiting other stars. The next step is to determine whether any of them are habitable, or even habitable,” said Steve B Howell, one of the planet discoverers at NASA Ames Research Center.
Furthermore, Speculoos-3b is known to orbit a red dwarf star in 17 hours. This means that one day on this planet is shorter than one day on Earth.
On one side the planet always faces the sun, while the other side is shrouded in darkness. In other words, day and night on this planet never end.
“We believe the planets rotate synchronously. So that the same side, called the daytime side, always faces the star. Just like the Moon does towards the Earth,” said Michaël Gillon, an astronomer at the University of Liège in Belgium and lead author of the study published in Nature Astronomy as quoted from The Guardian.
“On the other hand, the night side of the planet will be enveloped in endless darkness,” he added.
Planet Speculoos-3b is the second planetary system discovered around almost the same star. Previously, seven rocky planets had been detected around Trappist-1, another red dwarf star 40 light years from Earth.
Red dwarfs are believed to account for 70% of the stars in the Milky Way galaxy and last about 100 billion years. However, because of this ability, red dwarf stars have the opportunity to become the last stars to shine in the universe.
It is known that red dwarfs are very faint stars in the sky. This causes astronomers to have to observe this star for several weeks to detect planets passing in front of it.
The very long lifespan of red dwarf stars means that other planets orbiting them are warm enough to support life. However, in the case of Speculoos-3b, any life would still face quite extreme environments.
Speculoos-3b has a narrow planetary orbit and causes the planet to be bombarded by radiation. The incoming energy is almost 16 times more per second than Earth.
Planetary scientist at MI and co-director of the Speculoos Northern Observatory, Julien de Wit, believes that the chances of an atmosphere around the planet Speculoos-3b are highly unlikely in such an inadequate environment. Therefore the chance of life on Speculoos-3b is very small.
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Speculoos-3b: The Distant Oddity of the Cosmos
Hold onto your telescopes, folks! Astronomers have done it again — they’ve discovered a planet the same size as Earth, but, spoiler alert, it’s got about as much in common with us as a goldfish does with a speeding train. Meet the magnificent Speculoos-3b, orbiting a red dwarf star that sounds like it could be a character from a particularly bad sci-fi movie.
This rocky planet, heated by an unrelenting high radiation, lacks an atmosphere. Yes, you heard that right — the only thing it ‘breathes’ is the sound of hard vacuum. NASA spilled the beans about this peculiar exoplanet, citing the usual array of scientific jargon that would make your head spin faster than a hamster on a caffeine rush. They don’t feature such exoplanets in travel brochures, unless, of course, you’re in the market for a really bad vacation!
Our dear little Speculoos-3b emerged from the prestigious Search for Planets Eclipsing ULtra-cOOl Stars (Speculoos) project — quite the mouthful, right? These astronomers are armed with a network of fancy telescopes that seek out the faintest stars, which sounds romantic until you realize they spend more time looking at stars than their own families.
But let’s talk about the good stuff. The discovery of Speculoos-3b was as dramatic as a soap opera cliffhanger. It emerged from the shadows by actually crossing in front of its star, casting enough of a shadow to make even the faintest star twinkle with envy. This caused the star to dim, with the nearly sentient Speculoos network of robotic telescopes eagerly declaring, “Eureka!” You’d think they would have called it a “sneak peek,” but hey, originality isn’t everyone’s strong suit.
But alas, there’s no starry-eyed dream of intergalactic vacations here. Speculoos-3b orbits its red dwarf star every 17 hours, meaning days are shorter than your average catnap! Imagine a planet where one side is always sunbathing while the other side grabs a permanent 40 winks. Talk about a real estate nightmare. How do you even sell property on a planet where half of it could fry eggs on the sidewalk while the other half would be requesting a few extra blankets?
And considering Speculoos-3b’s captivating dance with radiation — I mean, an energy attack that’s 16 times what we experience — it’s safe to say that any hopeful life forms on that planet would either be extraordinarily tough or extraordinarily fictitious. It’s like inviting someone to a party where the music is played at 180 decibels. Who in their right mind would show up?
There might be a hint of good news from the stunningly optimistic scientist Steve B. Howell. He mentioned something about steps toward finding habitable conditions. But if that’s the case, let’s ensure our space suits have a lifetime supply of SPF 5000 and an escape pod! The chances of an atmosphere forming around Speculoos-3b are as slim as a model on a lettuce leaf diet, thanks to the unyielding bombardment of radiation ripping through space like an angry mob.
Red dwarfs as stars? They’re basically the ancient tortoises of the cosmos, boasting lifespans upwards of 100 billion years — give or take a few Galactic Throne Wars. Yet, even with their age and stability, it remains to be seen if any exoplanets caught in their orbit could host life that actually wants to live instead of just survive in a high-radiation sauna.
In conclusion, dear readers, while Speculoos-3b adds another fascinating chapter to our cosmic tales, let’s remember not to start packing our bags just yet. The universe is a big place, and while we might not find a paradise of life there, at least we have our imaginations… and possibly the enticing hope of space travel snacks that don’t include freeze-dried broccoli!
Jakarta –
Astronomers have identified an intriguing exoplanet, Speculoos-3b, which shares Earth’s size but presents a dramatically different environment. This planet orbits a red dwarf star and exhibits conditions that are far from our own.
According to a press release from NASA reported by detikINET on Friday (15/11/2024), this terrestrial planet is exposed to high levels of radiation, which has led to a complete lack of atmosphere. Such findings have sparked various analyses regarding the unique characteristics of Speculoos-3b.
Speculoos-3b was uncovered as part of the Search for Planets Eclipsing ULtra-cOOl Stars (Speculoos) project, an initiative that utilizes an international network of telescopes specifically designed to seek out faint stars in our galaxy and the rocky planets that revolve around them.
Based on information from the Astronomy page, the overarching goal of the Speculoos project is to chart planetary systems surrounding red dwarf stars, which are remarkably abundant in the cosmos. Astronomers not only aim to identify these exoplanets but also to discover candidates that may harbor signs of life.
Speculoos-3b was detected when it transited across the star it orbits, causing a noticeable dimming of the star’s light. This phenomenon was captured by the sophisticated network of robotic telescopes operated by the Speculoos initiative.
The insights gained from the discovery of Speculoos-3b are expected to facilitate further investigations, possibly utilizing the advanced capabilities of the James Webb Space Telescope. The specifics of the planet’s configuration and location continue to invite intensive scrutiny from researchers.
“We are making significant progress in understanding planets orbiting other stars. The forthcoming challenge is to ascertain whether any of these celestial bodies could support life,” stated Steve B Howell, a prominent planet discoverer at NASA Ames Research Center.
Furthermore, it has been established that Speculoos-3b completes an orbit around its red dwarf star in a mere 17 hours. This rapid rotation implies that a single day on this exoplanet is considerably shorter than what we experience on Earth.
Scientifically speaking, Speculoos-3b appears to be tidally locked, consistently presenting one hemisphere to its star while the opposite side remains in perpetual darkness. In effect, day and night endure endlessly on this planet.
“We propose that the planets rotate synchronously, with the same hemisphere—referred to as the daytime side—always facing the star, much like the Moon’s relationship to Earth,” remarked Michaël Gillon, an astronomer from the University of Liège in Belgium and lead author of a study published in Nature Astronomy.
Gillon further elaborated that the planet’s night side exists in interminable darkness, which shapes its inhospitable environment.
Speculoos-3b represents the second planetary system discovered around a similar type of star, following the detection of seven rocky planets within the Trappist-1 system, which is located 40 light years away from our planet.
Red dwarfs dominate the Milky Way galaxy, accounting for approximately 70% of all stars, and possess incredibly long lifespans, estimated to last around 100 billion years. Their endurance grants these stars the potential to be the final luminaries in the cosmic landscape.
These dim stars present challenges for astronomers, who must observe them for extended periods to identify any planets that transit in front of them. This prolonged observation is crucial due to the faintness of red dwarfs against the backdrop of space.
Despite the long lifespans of red dwarfs indicating a warm environment for orbiting planets, Speculoos-3b experiences extreme conditions that render it unlikely for any form of life to thrive. This proximity to its star subjects the exoplanet to intense radiation bombardment.
Speculoos-3b’s narrow orbit subjects it to nearly 16 times the amount of energy per second compared to Earth. Julien de Wit, a planetary scientist and co-director of the Speculoos Northern Observatory, posits that the presence of an atmosphere around Speculoos-3b is improbable given such hostile conditions, significantly diminishing the likelihood of extraterrestrial life.
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How does the discovery of planets like Speculoos-3b contribute to our understanding of exoplanets around red dwarf stars?
Ip with Earth,” explained Michaël Gillon, the lead author of the study on Speculoos-3b. This peculiar characteristic means that while one side of the planet experiences continuous daylight, the other side is shrouded in perpetual darkness.
Despite the similarities in size to Earth, the conditions on Speculoos-3b are vastly different and render it an unlikely candidate for life. The intense radiation exposure—reportedly 16 times greater than what we experience on Earth—means that any potential atmosphere would likely be stripped away, leaving the planet a lifeless shell. According to Julien de Wit, a planetary scientist and co-director of the Speculoos Northern Observatory, the environment is so extreme that it diminishes any possibility of sustaining life as we know it.
The detection of Speculoos-3b is yet another indication of the surging interest in exoplanets, particularly around red dwarf stars, which represent a significant portion of the stellar population in our galaxy. These stars, though faint, have long lifespans, which theoretically allows for prolonged stability in the planetary systems that orbit them. The Speculoos project aims not only to catalog these planets but to identify those with conditions potentially suitable for life.
while the discovery of Speculoos-3b provides fascinating insights into the diversity of planetary environments in our universe, it also serves as a reminder of the extreme conditions that many exoplanets face—conditions that are often inhospitable to life. The quest for habitable worlds continues, and as technology advances, more discoveries await among the stars.
