Researchers have discovered an extraordinary exoplanet, WASP-193b, which stands out as an anomaly in the cosmos. Located 1,232 light-years from Earth, it is described as "one of the most ludicrous" celestial objects ever encountered due to its unusual composition and properties.
A Cloud-Covered Colossal
Led by astronomer Khalid Barkaoui from the University of Liege in Belgium, the international team behind this discovery envisions WASP-193b as a gigantic ball of clouds or a colossal cotton candy. It eclipses Jupiter, the largest planet in our solar system, in size by 50%; however, its mass is a mere 0.139 times that of Jupiter.
Featherweight Density
The exoplanet's龐大 size and astonishingly low hmot lượng has led scientists to estimate its density at a mere 0.059 g/cm3, over a hundred times lighter than Earth's density of 5.51 g/cm3. This is equivalent to just 1/7 the mass of Jupiter, despite the latter being 50 times larger than Earth in physical size but possessing only about 1% of Earth's density.
A Cloud Planet Anomaly
According to Science Alert, the researchers contend that WASP-193b is a veritable cloud planet, composed almost entirely of clouds with potentially a small core at its center. While other ultra-lightweight planets have been found in the past, they were in a transient state, their atmospheres puffed up by their still-young, tens of millions-year-old parent stars.
A Star-Proximity Puzzle
WASP-193b orbits its parent star, which closely resembles our Sun in size and temperature, every 6.25 days, placing it in close proximity. However, conventional theories and models predict that after a few million to tens of millions of years of puffiness, the planet should have been stripped of its atmosphere by its parent star, leaving behind a rocky core.
Ancient Origins, Unorthodox Composition
The paradox lies in the fact that WASP-193b's parent star is 6 billion years old, suggesting that the exoplanet is also approximately of the same age. As Barkaoui notes, "WASP-193b is the second-lowest density planet ever found, after Kepler-51d, which is much smaller in size. We cannot reproduce such a low-density gas giant in our simulations."
Formation Enigma
The researchers propose that WASP-193b is composed of hydrogen and helium, similar to other gas giants; however, the reason behind its extreme size remains unknown. The scientific team acknowledges that this puzzle remains unsolved, but they anticipate further insights when the powerful James Webb Space Telescope turns its gaze towards WASP-193b.
A Cosmic Curiosity
Regardless of the eventual explanation, the discovery of this "cotton candy planet" represents a unique and fascinating find, showcasing the remarkable diversity of planetary bodies in the universe.