Every day, we witness new discoveries and encounter strange phenomena in the vastness of space. Recently, NASA’s Hubble Telescope made an astonishing find a one of a kind evaporating planet located 32 light years away from Earth.
What Makes this Planet Special?
Named AU MIC b, the planet was detected with the help of NASA’s telescopes. It revolves around its parent star, AU Microscopii, which is a Red Dwarf Star. This planetary system is one of the youngest known, being less than 100 million years old. The planet exhibits peculiar behavior, changing dramatically from one orbit to the next. Its close proximity to the parent star exposes it to frequent powerful energy bursts, characteristic of Red Dwarf Stars that can unleash energy up to 1000 times stronger than the Sun’s outbursts. Consequently, this intense energy causes the planet’s hydrogen atmosphere to evaporate, resulting in its gradual disintegration.
Astronomers are Astonished by its Unpredictability
The extreme variability of its orbit has left astronomers baffled. Keighley Rockcliffe, a researcher, expressed, “We have never witnessed atmospheric escape transition from completely undetectable to clearly detectable in such a short period when a planet passes in front of its star.” The unusual and unpredictable nature of the planet’s behavior continues to perplex scientists.
A hot planet orbiting a red dwarf star is experiencing the star’s torrential blast of energy, which evaporates its hydrogen atmosphere. Mysteriously, Hubble observations show that the planet doesn’t always lose atmosphere on consecutive orbits: https://t.co/gmpylkNVQ3 pic.twitter.com/CbI6sc3nua
— Hubble Space Telescope (@HubbleTelescope) July 27, 2023
Could Life Exist on AU MIC b?
At present, astronomers remain puzzled by the conditions on this unique planet. It is observed that the planet emits energy and radiation during stellar flares, powered by its strong magnetic fields. As these magnetic fields intensify, they generate a formidable stellar wind environment, resulting in extreme conditions on the planet. However, as AU MIC b is still in the process of formation, it is too early to determine the possibility of life here. Scientists are diligently exploring which planets might be habitable and how they can withstand such challenging conditions.
“Article Credit: Skywalker”
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