“This is the first time we've detected light from a planet that shouldn't exist.”
A team of astronomers at the University of Kansas (KU) have found evidence of an atmosphere around an extremely hot exoplanet – it shouldn't exist.
The exoplanet is 'hot Neptune', a giant planet with a mass like Uranus or Neptune that orbits so close to its star that its surface is exposed to massive amounts of radiation. In general, these types of planets are much hotter than Neptune.
But there is something unusual about this planet, dubbed LTT 9779b and located about 260 light years away. By analyzing data from NASA's TESS and Spitzer space telescope, astronomers have found that it has an atmosphere despite its enormous temperature.
“This is the first time we've measured the light emanating from this planet, which shouldn't be,” said Ian Crossfield, assistant professor of physics and astronomy at KU and lead author of an article published in Astrophysical Journal Letters.
“This planet is so intensely irradiated by its star that its temperature is over 3000 degrees Fahrenheit, and its atmosphere should have completely evaporated,” he added. “However, our observations from the Spitzer satellite show us the atmosphere in infrared light that the planet emits.”
Despite the atmosphere, the LTT 9779b would be a terrible place to live.
“This planet has no solid surface and is much hotter than Mercury in our solar system,” Crossfield said. 'A year lasts less than 24 hours – so quickly it revolves around its star. It's a pretty extreme system, 'he added.
Sources: Photo: NASA
