Astronomers Identify Possible New Type of Molten Planet
\n———————————-
\nScientists studying the exoplanet L98-59d, located 35 light-years from Earth, suggest it may represent a previously unknown category of molten planet. About 1.6 times the size of Earth, the planet orbits a small red star and appears to be covered by a global magma ocean with a likely molten core.<\/p>\n
Surface temperatures are estimated to reach 1,900\u00b0C, with large waves of magma driven by tidal forces from neighboring planets. Its hydrogen sulphide-rich atmosphere produces a characteristic \u201crotten egg\u201d smell, making conditions hostile to life.<\/p>\n
Observations from the James Webb Space Telescope revealed a sulphur-dominated atmosphere inconsistent with traditional rocky or water-world models. Advanced simulations indicate that the planet\u2019s magma ocean efficiently retains these gases, suggesting L98-59d has remained molten for billions of years.<\/p>\n
Researchers note that molten planets could be more common than previously thought, challenging assumptions about exoplanet habitability and highlighting the diversity of worlds beyond our solar system.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Astronomers Identify Possible New Type of Molten Planet ———————————- Scientists studying the exoplanet L98-59d, located 35 light-years from Earth, suggest it may represent a previously unknown category of molten planet. About 1.6 times the size of Earth, the planet orbits a small red star and appears to be covered by a global magma ocean with …<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":140914,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"rop_custom_images_group":[],"rop_custom_messages_group":[],"rop_publish_now":"initial","rop_publish_now_accounts":{"facebook_108372464460192_245495985553329":""},"rop_publish_now_history":[],"rop_publish_now_status":"pending","footnotes":""},"categories":[21],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-140915","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-science"],"yoast_head":"\n