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According to the researchers, the identified planet is similar in size to Earth and consists of a surface, an ocean and an atmosphere of rocks.
An international team of scientists has identified on a planet, located hundreds of light years from our solar system, one of the most extreme weather and weather cycles ever recorded.
During their research, which was published Wednesday in the Royal Astronomical Society’s Monthly Notices, the academics used computer simulations to model and predict the weather conditions of K2-141b, an Earth-sized exoplanet consisting of a surface, an ocean and an atmosphere of rocks.
The analysis of the exoplanet’s illumination patterns indicates, the authors explain, that about two thirds of the planet is permanently exposed to the light radiated by its Sun, which is why it reaches an estimated temperature in the 3,000 ° C, while the night side faces temperatures of -200 ° C.
As a result of the high temperatures in K2-141b, molten rock vapors, composed mainly of sodium, silicon monoxide and silicon dioxide, rise into the atmosphere, where they are blown away by supersonic winds that exceed the 5,000 kilometers per hour in the cold part of the planet.
Once the gases are condensed from extremely low temperatures, they precipitate in the form of stones on an ocean of magma beyond 100 kilometers deep, which starts the cycle again.
“All the rocky planets, including Earth, started out as ‘fused’ worlds but then quickly cooled and solidified,” explained Nicolas Cowan. “The lava planets [como K2-141b] they give us a rare glimpse at this stage of planetary evolution, “he added.
Now, scientists are hoping to see if their predictions about the exoplanet’s atmospheric and weather behavior are correct, and for that they will use information from the James Webb Space Telescope, which will be launched in 2021.
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