Scientists finally explain the mysterious signals of the distant planet "hell"

The "super-terre" has been 41 light years-and has confused scientists for 20 years.


From time to time, a small eclipse or a light signal becomes visible from the earth. But unlike Typical eclipses , it does not come from our sun or from our moon, but rather from a mysterious planet to 41 light years. Known as planet "Hell" for his landscape in charge of a volcano and its temperatures similar to the Inferno which reach 4,400 degrees, 55 Cancri e, as it is scientifically called, was discovered in 2004 and has since confusing scientists. But now they finally discovered why the planet gives off these strange signals. Read the rest for the fascinating explanation.

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The "Hell" planet is a super-terre.

NASA model of the super-Earth planet 55 Cancri e
Applications and development of NASA visualization technology (VTAD)

The planet is known as a super-terre, a class of planets that are " more massive than the earth However, lighter than the ice giants like Neptune and Uranus, "according to NASA. They can be made of gas, rock or both. AE0FCC31AE342FD3A1346EBB1F342FCB

The super-terre can be between two and 10 times the size of the earth; 55 Cancri E, also known as Janssen, is a bit finished Eight times bigger , Said NASA.

Like the earth orbit the sun, 55 cancride its own star, which is roughly the same size as ours. His star is called Copernicus.

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That's why it's so hot.

Lava Planet - Planet 55 Cancri e 3D rendering
AICROVISION / Shutterstock

Although 55 Cancri E was discovered in 2004, it was not until 2016 that the NASA Spitzer Spitzer telescope could map the temperature models of such a land. Currently, scientists have discovered that lava flows are responsible for "extreme temperature swings on one side of the planet to the other," said NASA.

In the case of 55 cancri e, the hottest side - the "day" side facing its star - withdraws nearly 4,400 degrees Fahrenheit, while the reverse "night" side is 2,060 degrees fahrenheit more cool. It should also be noted that the planet is "locked at the tide", which means that the side of the day is always the side of the day.

Although it takes the earth 365 days to turn around the sun, 55 cancri e orbits Copernicus in just 18 days. It is also much closer to its star than the earth - Less than two percent From the distance between the earth and the sun, underlines live science.

This means that 55 cancri E is more exposed to the heat of its star for more time as a whole - and it creates a planetary surface which is "covered with flowing mers", explains NASA.

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A new study explains its patterns of light.

a 3D illustration of Diamond Planets, 55 Cancri-e, Exoplanet
Declan Hillman / Shutterstock

Despite the understanding of the temperature and landscape of 55 cancri e, scientists remained perplexed by the light it issues. However, an article recently published in the Astrophysical newspaper letters Finally, addresses the phenomenon with a new hypothesis.

As the science explains, the researchers have determined that the planet "exceeds", a process in which "giant volcanoes and thermal vents open, spitting hot elements rich in carbon in the atmosphere".

But because of the extreme warmth of the planet, it "cannot keep this atmosphere for a long time," live science notes ", and this gas ended up being blown away, leaving the planet naked until the pergaper starts again."

So there are moments when the planet is "bald" and has no atmosphere at all. During these times, its incredibly hot surface emits infrared light. "When the atmosphere swells, the visible light and all the radiation from the surface appear in the transit signal", sums up the science live.

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There could be another super-terre in our galaxy.

the hypothetical planet nine in front the Milky Way galaxy and lit by the Sun
Yeti / Shutterstock in dotted

All the other confirmed super-terrainers are well outside the Milky Way, but for several years, there is a theory that we exist at the great scope of our galaxy. Known as Planet Nine, it is supposed to be a trans-Neptunian object (TNO), "small frozen bodies that sun Beyond Neptune orbit, "explains Space.com, adding that it is" bits of the formation of the solar system that threw towards the external edges of the system during the first chaotic years of planetary creation " .

However, Planet Nine's evidence is currently based on hypothetical models. "Until now, all we have to continue is the strange orbital dance of dark and distant TNOs", according to Space.com. "But it is definitely an intriguing sign and one of the best ways to explain all the evidence available."

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Categories: Smarter Living
Tags: News / Science
By: liz-szabo
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