tech
‘A molten, mushy state’: scientists may have found a new type of liquid planet
Latest observations of L98-59d, about 35 light years from Earth, suggest it could be different to anything seen before
TL;DR
- A planet named L98-59d, approximately 1.6 times Earth's size, has been identified as being composed of molten lava.
- The planet orbits a red star 35 light years away, with surface temperatures reaching 1,900C (3,500F).
- Advanced computer simulations suggest L98-59d has a global magma ocean, which helps retain its sulphur-rich atmosphere.
- This discovery implies molten planets might be common and prompts caution in designating exoplanets as potentially habitable.
- The findings, published in Nature Astronomy, suggest a new category of liquid planet may exist.