Observation of a rocky „super-Earth“ planet orbiting one of the oldest stars of the Milky Way
One of the oldest stars in the Milky Way hosts an unusually hot rock Planet „super earth“New study reports.
Commonly known as TOI-561b, this Exoplanet The researchers said it is about 50% larger and three times the Earth’s mass. It orbits its host star in very close orbit, and takes less than 12 hours to complete one revolution.
Given this close proximity, TOI-561b has an average surface temperature of more than 3,140 degrees Fahrenheit (1,726 degrees Celsius), and is far too hot to host any life form as we know it, according to a statement from the University of California, Riverside.
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The researchers also found that the density of TOI-561b is similar to that of the Earth.
„This is surprising, because you would expect the density to be higher,“ said study co-author Stephen Kane, an astrophysicist at the University of California, Riverside. He said in the statement. „This is consistent with the idea that the planet is very old.“
Heavy elements such as iron and magnesium are synthesized by fusion reactions in massive star cores. The abundance of these elements accumulated over time Milky Way And other galaxies, as more and more stars eject these materials and eject them into space when they die in supernova explosions.
The low density of TOI-561b indicates that it contains relatively few heavy elements and is therefore very old, forming perhaps 10 billion years or so ago, said lead author of the study Lauren Weiss, a postdoctoral fellow at the University of Hawaii, on Monday (Jan 11) during a presentation at The 237th meeting of the American Astronomical Society (AAS).
In fact, the planet’s host star, TOI-561, is among a rare group of stars found in an area called the galactic thick disk. These stars are known to contain less heavy elements than typical stars in the Milky Way.
„TOI-561b is one of the oldest rocky planets that have been discovered so far,“ Weiss said. University of California, Riverside Statement. „Its existence indicates that the universe has formed nearly rocky planets since its inception 14 billion years ago.“
Weiss and colleagues discovered and distinguished TOI-561b through a study of observations by NASA. Transit of an exoplanet survey satellite (Tess) W. WM Keck Observatory, Hawaii. (TOI means „TESS important object.“
The system is located about 280 light years from Earth and houses two other known planets in addition to TOI-561b. But these other two planets are very large and not dense enough to be rocky, unlike TOI-561b.
“Although it is unlikely that this planet is inhabited today, it may be a harbinger for many Rocky worlds „The oldest stars of our galaxy have yet to be discovered,“ Kane said in the statement.
The results were new Published January 11 In The Astronomical Journal and was presented Monday at the 237th AAS meeting.
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