Dual Dove
A lava planet is now in the spotlight thanks to new research and finding.
Among the toughest cosmic bodies found beyond the borders of our Solar System are lava planets. They’re extremely hot and fiery and orbit so close to their host star that some areas are likely oceans of molten lava.
According to the research, the weather cycle and atmosphere of at least one planet are even peculiar, having the evaporation and precipitation of supersonic winds that rage over 4500km/hr, rocks, and a magma basin 100km deep.
Here is what you need to know.
Lava Planet Features and Other Odd Phenomena
The team’s work
The team of scientists from McGill University, the Indian Institute of Science Education, and the York University utilized computer models to predict the conditions on a lava planet, dubbed K2-141b.
K2-141b is an Earth-like cosmic body with an ocean, surface, and atmosphere all made up of the same recipe: rocks, many rocks.
The severe weather predicted by the team could permanently change the atmosphere and surface of the K2-141b. Giang Nguyen, the lead author of the research and a Ph. D. student at York University, released a statement discussing the team’s work’s importance. He said:
“[…] the first to make predictions about weather conditions on K2-141b that can be detected from hundreds of light-years away with next-generation telescopes…”
Most of the lava planet faces continuous daylight
In examining the illumination way of K2-141b, the team found that almost two-thirds of it faces continuous daylight.
The planet belongs to a subset of rocky cosmic bodies that orbit incredibly close to their star. Such proximity maintains K2-141b gravitationally tied up in place, and the same side always faces the star.
The night side experiences some of the coldest temperatures, below -200C, while the other part is hot enough to melt rocks and vaporize them, too, reaching approximately 3000C.
What to Expect
The team explained that the next step is to test if all the predictions are accurate. Thanks to the Spitzer Space Telescope’s data, the scientists should have just enough information to extend their research.
