Scientists have reported the discovery of a peculiar, red-glowing planet potentially undergoing internal melting, offering a rare glimpse into a cosmic phenomenon.
An illustration depicts a molten world orbiting closely around its star. (Image credit: NASA, ESA, CSA, Dani Player)
Named TOI-6713.01, this newly found exoplanet resides within a distant star system, featuring an orange dwarf star and two companion worlds, situated approximately 66 light-years away from Earth. Revealed in a study published in The Astronomical Journal in April, this rocky planet, slightly larger than Earth, completes an orbit around its host star every 2.2 days.
Utilizing data from NASA’s Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS), astronomers have discerned that the planet’s surface is engulfed in molten lava, emitted by hundreds of active volcanoes dotting its terrain. With temperatures soaring beyond 4,200 degrees Fahrenheit (2,300 degrees Celsius), the planet emits a fiery red glow, observable at optical wavelengths.
Stephen Kane, an astrophysicist from the University of California, Riverside, who spearheaded the discovery, remarked on the astonishment of such a find, stating, “It was one of those discovery moments that you think, ‘wow, it’s amazing this can actually exist.'”
The neighboring planets’ gravitational forces have elongated TOI-6713.01’s orbit from circular to oval, subjecting it to constant gravitational perturbations from its stellar and planetary companions. This gravitational tug-of-war generates immense internal friction and heat within the planet, manifesting in explosive volcanic activity across its surface.
While the existence of TOI-6713.01 awaits confirmation through subsequent observations, astronomers anticipate it to be a compelling subject for investigating the extreme tidal effects experienced by planets. Such dynamics, seldom explored in exoplanetary studies thus far, offer valuable insights into the energetic processes shaping celestial bodies.
Comparisons drawn with Jupiter’s moon Io, subject to similar gravitational stresses, highlight the remarkable scale of tidal energy at play on TOI-6713.01. Kane likens the terrestrial planet to “Io on steroids,” emphasizing its profound geological activity.
In the coming months, Kane and his team plan to ascertain the planet’s mass, a crucial step in unraveling its formation and evolutionary history, shedding light on the mechanisms driving its tumultuous volcanic landscape.
