Astronomers Uncover a Puzzling World that Challenges Planetary Evolution
H2. A Galactic Phoenix Rises
Astronomers have stumbled upon an enigmatic planet that has left them scratching their heads and rethinking the fate of Neptune-like worlds—and even Earth itself. Dubbed TIC365102760 b, the planet has earned the nickname "Phoenix" due to its unexpected ability to retain an atmosphere despite its sizzling proximity to its host star.
H3. Orbiting a Red Giant
TIC365102760 b orbits a red giant star, the aftermath of stars like our Sun. The planet's distance from its star is six times closer than Mercury is to the Sun, according to a report published in The Astrophysical Journal.
H3. A Hot and Hostile Environment
The planet's extreme proximity to its star subjects it to intense heat and relentless blasts of stellar radiation. Such conditions should have stripped away its atmosphere long ago.
H2. A Neptune-Sized Anomaly
TIC365102760 b is 6.2 times larger than Earth, placing it within the category of Neptune-like worlds. Astronomers have previously observed larger and younger planets losing their atmospheres due to their close proximity to their stars.
H3. An Atmospheric Enigma
Yet, TIC365102760 b appears to be an exception.
"This planet is not behaving the way we expected; it has managed to hold onto a substantial, albeit thin, atmosphere," said study author Sam Grunblatt of Johns Hopkins University. He admits that the reasons behind the planet's atmospheric resilience remain a mystery.
H2. Detecting a Tiny World
NASA's Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS) first detected the "Phoenix" planet, while the Keck Observatory provided further insights into its characteristics.
"This is the smallest exoplanet we have found orbiting so close to a red giant star, and it is probably the lowest-mass exoplanet we've identified," said Grunblatt.
H3. A Slow Atmospheric Loss
The Phoenix planet's atmospheric loss is happening at an unusually slow pace, suggesting it may retain some of its atmosphere until its ultimate demise.
H2. The Fate of a Phoenix
Over time, red giant stars can expand tens of millions of kilometers, affecting the orbits of their companion planets. In the process, planets may be drawn in and devoured by their host stars. Such is the fate that awaits the Phoenix planet in about 100 million years.
H3. A Cautionary Tale for Earth
And it is a fate that Earth may share. In about 5 billion years, the Sun will become a red giant, likely engulfing Mercury, Venus, and possibly even Earth.
Summary
The discovery of the Phoenix planet has puzzled astronomers and raised questions about the evolution of planetary systems. Its puzzling resilience to atmospheric loss suggests that our understanding of planetary behavior may need to be revised. As red giants engulf their companions, the fate of the Phoenix planet serves as a reminder of the potential outcome for Earth in the distant future.