Shiniest Planet Ever Found Discovered, Researchers Say
Astronomers have made an extraordinary discovery: a planet located just 265 light years away from our solar system that is considered the shiniest planet ever found. This remarkable find was detailed in a recent paper published in the journal Astronomy & Astrophysics. Named LTT 9779 b, this planet is not only shiny but boasts several other unique characteristics as well.
One of the standout traits of LTT 9779 b is its scorching temperature, which reaches a blistering 3,000 degrees Fahrenheit. This intense heat is attributed to the planet’s thick metallic clouds that engulf it. Furthermore, scientists believe that this planet may experience scorching-hot drops of titanium rain.
Roughly five times the size of Earth, LTT 9779 b is classified as an ultrahot, gaseous exoplanet. Researchers consider this discovery to be groundbreaking, as there are only a few planets of this size with similar characteristics that scientists have identified. James Jenkins, an astronomer at Diego Portales University and the Center of Astrophysics and Associated Technologies in Chile, stated that this finding provides new insights into understanding this type of extreme, Neptune-like planets.
NASA’s Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite initially detected LTT 9779 b in 2018. Scientists quickly realized that this planet was unlike any other they had come across. Typically, planets with short orbital periods are either hot Jupiters or small rocky orbs. However, LTT 9779 b defies these categories as a midsize planet that belongs to the so-called Neptune desert, one of only four or five known planets in this class and the sole planet with an intact atmosphere.
The European Space Agency’s Cheops space telescope, along with NASA’s Spitzer Space Telescope, provided vital optical and infrared data that shed further light on the characteristics of LTT 9779 b. From these observations, scientists deduced that the planet reflects approximately 80 percent of the light emanating from its sun, making it even shinier than Venus. The researchers also discovered that the planet’s metallic clouds contain silicates and titanium.
It remains a mystery how LTT 9779 b can form clouds despite its extreme heat. Dr. Jenkins suggests that it might be comparable to steam condensing in the air during a hot shower. The fact that the planet’s clouds are metallic is believed to be the reason its atmosphere remains intact, as most of the stellar radiation bounces off the material, preventing it from penetrating the clouds and blowing them away.
Knicole Colón, an astrophysicist at NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, expressed fascination at the existence of a planet like LTT 9779 b and noted that this initial discovery hints at an even more intriguing story. As a result, plans are underway to conduct further investigations using the Hubble and James Webb Space Telescopes. These telescopes will provide better optical data and improve our understanding of the planet’s brightness variations.
Over the next five years, Dr. Jenkins and his team aim to search for more planets within the same star system. This endeavor may yield significant insights into the formation and nature of this exceptional exoplanet.
As scientists delve deeper into the mysteries of LTT 9779 b, they are increasingly recognizing its rarity and importance. Dr. Jenkins acknowledges the significance of this discovery and emphasizes that the diversity of planets in the universe extends far beyond those in our own solar system. With continued research, astronomers anticipate the possibility of uncovering more planets similar to LTT 9779 b and expanding our knowledge of the cosmos.