Shafaqna – Scientists have discovered a rare planet the size of Neptune orbiting very close to its host star, and it is the fourth planet of its kind to be discovered.
Scientists at NASA discovered the planet called TOI-3261 b outside our solar system, using the TESS space telescope. Further observations were then made using ground-based telescopes from around the world.
TOI-3261 b is among the types of planets that are very rare due to size and classification, because it belongs to a group of planets called “Neptune’s hot desert,” which is a term used to describe on planets like Neptune, but they are. often different in the characteristics of the atmosphere and the ability to hold.
Scientists say that the new planet is similar to Neptune in terms of size and composition, except that it is moving much closer to the host star This means that only one year on TOI- 3261 b longer than 21 hours, that is, even shorter than one day on Earth.
It is estimated that the planetary system in which TOI-3261 b is about 6.5 billion years old, and that the planet began much older than it is now.
The planet likely lost part of its mass over time through phenomena such as photoventilation, where the star’s energy causes gas molecules to disappear, and tidal disruption, where gravity from the star pulling layers of gas from the planet.
What NASA is most interested in is the atmosphere left on the planet, as scientists hope to further analyze the atmosphere to understand the history of its formation.
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