Source: iNews

A “hell planet” where it rains rocks, its seas are molten lava and winds race at supersonic winds has been discovered.

Called K2-141b, it is among one of the most extreme planets discovered beyond the edges of our solar system called exoplanets that are also known as lava planets. 

According to scientists from McGill University, York University, and the Indian Institute of Science Education, the atmosphere and weather cycle of K2-141b is particularly bizarre.   

The team found that on the planet there are supersonic winds of than 5000 km per hour (3100 miles per hour) and a magma ocean 100km (62 miles) deep.  

Lava oceans

Much of the planet comprises lava oceans because it orbits its host star so closely.  

As well as this, its proximity to its star gravitationally locks it in place so that the same side always faces the star.  

Temperatures on the perpetual “day side” of the exoplanet are estimated to be 3000C – hot enough not only to melt rocks but to vaporise them which then creates a thin atmosphere in some areas.  

In contrast the “night side” experiences temperatures of below -200 C.  

Lead author of the study Giang Nguyen, a PhD student at York University who worked under the supervision of McGill University Professor Nicolas Cowan on the study said: “The study is the first to make predictions about weather conditions on K2-141b that can be detected from hundreds of light years away with next-generation telescopes such as the James Webb Space Telescope.”

Lava planets

Professor Cowan of the Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences said: “All rocky planets­, including Earth, started off as molten worlds but then rapidly cooled and solidified. Lava planets give us a rare glimpse at this stage of planetary evolution.”

The scientists say the next step will be to test if these predictions are correct.

Data from the Spitzer Space Telescope should give them a first glimpse at the day-side and night-side temperatures of the exoplanet.

With the James Webb Space Telescope launching in 2021, they will also be able to verify whether the atmosphere behaves as predicted.

The scientists used computer simulations to predict conditions on the exoplanet.  

Their findings are published in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society.  

Source: iNews