A Year Or 365 Days On This Exoplanet Lasts For Less Than 8 Hours
Imagine a planet where a year lasts for just 8 hours! Now stop imagining, for scientists have actually discovered a rocky planet with such features.
The extremely hot GJ-367b is unlike anything found in our solar system. The exoplanet orbits a red dwarf situated 31 light-years from the Sun. This is rather small distance, given the Milky Way galaxy is about 100,000 light-years wide.
The announcement was made in a new study conducted by authors from the Institute of Planetary Research at the German Aerospace Center (DLR).
How big is this planet?
The planet is roughly 70 per cent as large as Earth and 50 per cent as massive, which according to Space.com makes it one of the most light exoplanets found so far. Each orbit under the red dwarf is completed by the exoplanet is 7.7 hours, making it a USP planet (ultra-short period) - about which astronomers do not know a lot.
In a statement, study co-lead author Kristine W.F. Lam said that the origins of USPs are "currently unknown." By student the properties of planets like GJ-367b could help astronomers understand the evolution and history of such exoplanets.
How was it discovered?
The discovery was made using data from NASA's Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS), which was launched in 2018 and hunts for planets using the "transit method" i.e. - when a potential planet passes through the face of its star from the perspective of the satellite.
The rocky world is way denser than Earth's physiology and is more similar to Mercury. Its core is most probably made up on iron.
What do you think about this new discovery not so far away from our Sun? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below. For more in the world of science and tech, keep reading Indiatimes.com.
Citation
Wall, M. (2021, December 2). Newfound rocky exoplanet has a year less than 8 hours long. Space.Com.?
