Astronomers have discovered a hot lava planet made of diamond, known as 55 Cancri e, using the James Webb telescope. This planet is nearly twice as wide as Earth and nine times more massive, belonging to the super-Earth group of exoplanets. Located about 41 light-years from the solar system, 55 Cancri e is hypothesized to be mainly composed of carbon compressed into diamond due to its high density.
Planet 55 Cancri e is situated close to its host star, 55 Cancri A, only 2.3 km away. As a result, it completes one revolution around its host star in just 17 Earth hours and has a scorching surface temperature of about 2,400 degrees Celsius. The intense radiation from the host star caused 55 Cancri e to lose its original atmosphere, much like other rocky planets in similar close orbits. However, recent research published in Nature revealed the presence of a thick layer of gas surrounding the planet, indicating the development of a second atmosphere.
This second atmosphere could be supported by gas escaping from the planet’s rock layer due to its proximity to the host star and the intense heat it receives. Initial observations using the Hubble space telescope in 2016 suggested that 55 Cancri e’s atmosphere contained hydrogen and helium. Further studies using the James Webb Space Telescope ruled out the possibility of a hot lava world and indicated that volcanic activity on the planet may have played a role in the development of its second atmosphere.
While the exact composition of the second atmosphere on 55 Cancri e is still under investigation, models suggest it may contain significant amounts of carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide. The discovery of this unique exoplanet showcases