Scientists have discovered a small, rocky planet disintegrating near its host star, leaving behind a comet-like tail of mineral dust. The planet, BD+05 4868 Ab, orbits perilously close to its star and is estimated to be between the size of Mercury and Earth’s moon. It is located about 140 light years away from Earth.
Researchers observed the planet as it gradually crumbles into dust, shedding material roughly equal to the mass of Mount Everest with each orbit of its star. The tail of dust trails the planet for approximately 9 million kilometers, or 5.6 million miles.
The host star is an orange dwarf, smaller and cooler than our sun. The planet’s surface temperature is estimated at around 3,000 degrees Fahrenheit due to its close proximity to the star, likely turning its surface into magma.
“We expect the planet to disintegrate within the next million years,” said Marc Hon, lead author of the study. “This process is catastrophically quick in cosmic timescales and has a runaway effect, making it a unique opportunity for exoplanet geology.”
The researchers plan further observations using NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope to study the composition of the material in the tail, which could provide insights into the makeup of rocky exoplanets. The discovery offers a rare chance to directly measure the mineral composition of a terrestrial planet outside our solar system.
This exceptional opportunity for exoplanet geology and understanding the diversity and potential habitability of rocky worlds beyond our solar system highlights the significance of this discovery.
Source: https://www.yahoo.com/news/planet-comet-tail-observed-disintegrating-150141615.html