NASA has once again astounded us with a remarkable discovery! Their keen-eyed satellites TESS and Spitzer have located a hot, seductive character in the dizzying distances of space. Meet the exoplanet LP 791-18 d, which is around the size of Earth but far more explosive!
The Paradise of the Volcanoes
LP 791-18 d, which is located 90 light-years away in the constellation Crater, may be the best planet for treating planetary acne because it is covered in volcanoes. This raucous personality may have more in common with Jupiter's moon Io than with Earth. Scientists believe that LP 791-18 d experiences frequent volcanic outbursts, just like Io. This infernal setting can make Dante's Inferno seem like a vacation in the tropics!
Gravity at War with You
This raging globe of fire and brimstone is tidally locked and will always present its host star with the same scorching visage. from it's orbit is everything from calm. LP 791-18 d's orbit is elliptical due to a gravitational push-me-pull-you with the massive planet c in its system, which results in significant internal heating and creates the conditions for continuous eruptions.
Frosty Flipside, Fiery Facade
LP 791-18 d is located on the inner limit of the habitable zone, or the Goldilocks zone, where circumstances may be "just right" for life despite this intense volcanic activity. Even if it may be hot enough to fry an egg on the day side, the tremendous volcanic activity may create a tumultuous atmosphere. This environment would allow water to condense on the side of the universe that is always cool and dark, which might be a home for life as we know it.
Treatment as a James Webb Star
The larger brother of planet c, LP 791-18 d, has also drawn the attention of experts. They think that these two celebs from outer space would make excellent candidates for a close-up from the James Webb Space Telescope. Every astronomer's burning query: Is a volcanic world possible? like LP 791-18 d essential for life to manifest itself?
Spitzer's Singular
Given that it is one of the final datasets gathered by the now-retired Spitzer Space Telescope, this discovery is bittersweet for the NASA team. Spitzer will cease operations in 2020, but it is still giving the astrophysics community one more glimpse into the blazing core of an exoplanet like LP 791-18 d.
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