A team of researchers has discovered a strange, melting planet named TOI-6713.01 located in a faraway star system. The planet has many active volcanoes that give it a fiery red glow when seen from space. This unique planet has never been observed before, with follow-up observations needed to confirm its existence.
NASA’s Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS) uncovered that the planet’s surface is covered with molten lava from hundreds of erupting volcanoes, with temperatures exceeding 4,200 degrees Fahrenheit (2,300 degrees Celsius). Astrophysicist Stephen Kane who led the discovery described the planet as “Io on steroids,” referring to Jupiter’s moon known for its volcanic activity.
Despite its high temperature and volcanic activity, the newly discovered planet orbits its star in a highly elliptical manner, similar to Mercury in our solar system. Two other planets in the system exert gravitational pull on TOI-6713.01, causing it to experience gravitational tides that stretch and twist its molten interior as it moves closer and farther from its sun. The discovery of TOI-6713.01 will shed light on the formation and evolution of exoplanetary systems with extreme environments like this one.
The research was published in The Astronomical Journal and provides new insights into our understanding of these planets’ behavior and characteristics.
TOI-6713.01 orbits a dwarf star 66 light years away from Earth and completes an orbit in 2.2 days. The discovery highlights the importance of continued exploration and study of exoplanets in order to better understand their unique features and characteristics.
In conclusion, the discovery of TOI-6713.01 is an exciting breakthrough for exoplanet research, providing new information about these extreme environments and their potential habitability for life beyond Earth.