Astronomers may find evidence of moons orbiting the first exoplanet In a star system 635 light years away from Earth, from studying the behavior of the moon Io orbiting Jupiter.
So far, astronomers have not found clear evidence that the moons orbit exoplanets. This is because these moons may be too small to detect with current Earth-based technology. But the latest data from the WASP-49b planet survey may indicate that there is a ‘moon’ orbiting the star.
WASP-49b is a Jupiter-sized gaseous planet. It was discovered using the eclipse method (Transit) in 2012 orbiting a star similar to the Sun closely. One year on this planet is equal to 2.8 Earth days, and astronomers first discovered sodium clouds in the system in 2017.
The reason this discovery is interesting is because the star and planet WASP-49b are made up mostly of hydrogen and helium. Although it may contain some sodium. But it is not compared to the amount found in this cloud. which astronomers estimate comes from a source that emits more than 100,000 kilograms of sodium per second.
Compare the data with Jupiter’s volcanic moon Io, which is currently volcanically active. and spraying sulfur dioxide, sodium, potassium, and various gases. It came out as a cluster of clouds around Jupiter. This raises the possibility that astronomers will find evidence of a volcanic moon similar to Io. orbiting this exoplanet.
Recent research by Apurva Oza, a researcher at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, has found evidence that these clouds may be caused by other factors affecting the star. Regardless of the direction of motion or speed relative to the planets Using data from ESO’s Very Large Telescope, the team found that the sodium clouds are high in the atmosphere of WASP-49b, similar to clouds from Jupiter’s moon Io.
In addition, the research team created a simulation model from the existing data. They found that the small moon with an orbital period of 8 hours around the planet WASP-49b could help explain several features, including the movement of clouds. and jumping back and forth in different positions incompatible with the body of the planet
However, astronomers still cannot conclude that this is the first discovery of an exoplanet’s moon. The research team wants to study the star system for a longer period of time. This is to ensure that these clouds come from the moon. And it is not a phenomenon from the planets or the stars.
Rosaly Lopes, a planetary geologist at JPL, said: “Finding the moons of exoplanets will be a very special thing. And data from the moon Io tells us that it may have a volcanic moon. The evidence we have today clearly shows that something other than the planets and the stars are producing these clouds. “
The results of the research were published in the journal. Astrophysical Journal Letters on September 30
Image: NASA/JPL
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