The powerful James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) has allowed astronomers to peer into the distant reaches of our Universe. The telescope's latest discovery is one of the strangest.
In a new publication in Letters from an Astrophysical JournalA research team has detailed the characteristics of the “mysterious” planet PSR J2322-2650b, which is trapped in a toxic relationship with its star. The planet's unusual shape and amazing atmosphere have baffled researchers who are still trying to explain the planet's existence.
Read more: JWST helps explore the atmosphere of an exoplanet 40 light-years away and in the Goldilocks zone
How to discover the planet Pulsar
Artist's concept of PSR J2322-2650b, a lemon-shaped exoplanet.
(Image credit: NASA, ESA, CSA, Ralph Crawford (STScI))
The PSR J2322-2650b measures approximately Jupiterand orbits a star called a pulsar. A pulsar is the rapidly spinning remains of a massive star that collapsed in on itself after a powerful supernova explosion. PSR J2322-2650b rotates approximately 700 times per second, making it a so-called millisecond pulsar.
The pulsar emits beams of radiation that can only be perceived when they are pointed directly at Earth. However, it is believed that these rays are mainly gamma radiation. JWST operates in the infrared so it is not blinded by the pulsar's intense radiation, giving astronomers a clear view of nearby PSR J2322-2650b.
“The planet orbits an absolutely bizarre star—the mass of the sun, but the size of a city,” said Michael Zhang of the University of Chicago, the study's principal investigator, in his report. press release. “This is a new type of planetary atmosphere that no one has ever seen before,” he added.
Diamond Rain and Fast Orbit
PSR J2322-2650b is a lemon-shaped planet with an atmosphere composed primarily of helium and carbon. Clouds of carbon likely cause diamond showers on the planet's surface.
Study co-author Peter Gao, an astronomer at Carnegie's Earth and Planetary Laboratory, said in a press release that the findings were an “absolute surprise.” “I remember after we recorded the data, our collective reaction was, 'What the hell is this?' It's very different from what we expected.”
The planet just rotates one million miles from its twin pulsar, which is thirty times closer than Mercury orbits our Sun. At this distance, PSR J2322-2650b orbits in just eight hours.
It is clear that such proximity to a spinning ball of radiation from a collapsing star is not a good situation for PSR J2322-2650b. The gravity of its dense neighbor created the unusual shape of the planet. This type of planet-pulsar conjunction is called a “black widow” system, named after the menacing spider that devours its partner. Eventually, PSR J2322-2650b will also be eaten by its unstable pulsar.
The powerful presence of the pulsar has caused PSR J2322-2650b to be tidally locked, meaning that one side of the planet is permanently facing the pulsar. This face is fried by the star's energy, heating it to a maximum temperature of 3,700 degrees Fahrenheit. The dark side of the planet, which always looks only at the emptiness of space, is cold, with a minimum temperature reaching 1,200 degrees Fahrenheit.
We explain how a strange planet appeared
At these temperatures, astronomers expect carbon in the planet's atmosphere to combine with other elements such as oxygen or nitrogen. Instead, PSR J2322-2650b is rich in pure molecular carbon. This makes it unique among the planets studied by astronomers.
“This thing formed like a normal planet? No, because its composition is completely different,” Zhang said. “It formed by removing the outer part of a star, how do 'normal' black widow systems form? Probably not, because nuclear physics does not create pure carbon. It is very difficult to imagine how to obtain this extremely carbon-rich composition. It seems to rule out all known mechanisms of formation.”
Researchers are still figuring out exactly how the planet's unique atmosphere came about. One possible mechanism could be carbon rain on the planet.
“As the satellite cools, the mixture of carbon and oxygen inside begins to crystallize. Crystals of pure carbon float to the top and mix with helium, and that's what we see,” said study co-author and Stanford University astronomer Roger Romani in a press release. “But then something has to happen to keep the oxygen and nitrogen out. And this is where the mystery arises.
“But it's nice not to know everything. I'm looking forward to learning more about the strangeness of this atmosphere. It's great to be able to solve the mystery,” concluded Romani.
Article sources
Our writers at Discovermagazine.com use peer-reviewed research and high-quality sources for their articles, and our editors review scientific accuracy and editorial standards. Review the sources used below for this article:
