Astronomers find a highly reflective planet similar to a giant mirror outside the solar system. Photo/LBC
WASHINGTON – Astronomers found out planet which is highly reflective like a giant mirror on outside the solar system . The exoplanet, which orbits a sun-like star every 19 hours, is named LTT9779b.
This planet, which is located in the Milky Way galaxy, appears to be surrounded by metallic clouds made of titanium and silicates. The planet is about 4.7 times larger in diameter than Earth, and orbits its star at a much closer distance than Mercury to the sun.
Sitting about 264 light years from Earth, it is believed to reflect about 80% of the light that enters it, which makes it the most reflective natural object in the universe. For comparison, Venus, which is the brightest object in Earth’s night sky, reflects about 75% of the incoming light and Earth reflects about 30%.
“It’s a giant mirror in outer space,” said Professor James Jenkins, an astronomer and co-author of the study in the journal Astronomy and Astrophysics quoted SINDOnews from the LBC page, Tuesday (11/7/2023).
Planet LTT9779b has a surface temperature of about 1,800 degrees Celsius, due to intense radiation from its star. Scientists studied the planet using the European Space Agency’s (ESA) CHEOPS orbital telescope.
“We even thought that clouds could condense into droplets, and titanium rain fell in part of the atmosphere,” added Professor Jenkins.
Professor Vivien Parmentier, an astronomer from the Côte d’Azur Observatory in France, said LTT9779b was a planet that should not exist because it has an atmosphere close to that of its star. “This is quite unique because all other planets at this temperature become as dark as charcoal,” he said.
Dr Sergio Hoyer, lead author on the study and astronomer from the Marseille Astrophysical Laboratory in France, added that no other planet like this had been found to date. This planet has one side that is permanently day because it is facing the star, while the other side is permanently night because it is facing out.
“The diversity of exoplanets is amazing. And we’ve only just skimmed the surface,” said Prof Parmentier.
(wib)
2023-07-11 10:04:13
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