Current:Home > MyScientists discover 350,000 mile tail on planet similar to Jupiter-InfoLens
Scientists discover 350,000 mile tail on planet similar to Jupiter
View Date:2024-12-23 11:02:33
Scientists have found that a planet outside of our solar system has a comet like tail, providing clues into how planets evolve over time.
WASP-69b, a planet similar to Jupiter discovered 10 years ago, was found by a team lead by UCLA astrophysicists to have a tail of at least 350,000 miles comprised of gasses from the planet's atmosphere. The research was published in the Astrophysical Journal Wednesday.
"The WASP-69b system is a gem because we have a rare opportunity to study atmospheric mass-loss in real time and understand the critical physics that shape thousands of other planets," Erik Petigura, co-author and UCLA professor of physics and astronomy, said in a press release.
Planet not in danger from star's forces
The exoplanet is close enough to its sun to make a complete orbit in less than four days, leading to its atmosphere being degraded by the star's radiation at a rate of 200,000 tons per second and formed into a tail by its stellar wind.
Previous research into WASP-69b suggested that the planet had a "subtle tail" according to Dakotah Tyler, a UCLA doctoral student and first author of the research, but the team found that the tail is "at least seven times longer than the planet itself."
Despite this, the planet, which is around 90 times the mass of Earth, is not in danger of being destroyed before its star flames out.
"WASP-69b has such a large reservoir of material that even losing this enormous amount of mass won’t affect it much over the course of its life. It’s in no danger of losing its entire atmosphere within the star’s lifetime," Tyler said in the press release.
veryGood! (6)
Related
- Wheel of Fortune Contestant Goes Viral Over His Hilariously Wrong Answer
- Ryan Gosling cries to Taylor Swift's 'All Too Well' in Super Bowl ad for 'The Fall Guy' movie
- Most likeable Super Bowl ever. Chiefs, Usher almost make you forget about hating NFL
- Was this Chiefs' worst Super Bowl title team? Where 2023 squad ranks in franchise history
- NFL coaches diversity report 2024: Gains at head coach, setbacks at offensive coordinator
- Kansas City Chiefs Coach Andy Reid Reacts to Travis Kelce’s Heated Sideline Moment at Super Bowl 2024
- Court documents identify Houston megachurch shooter and say AR-style rifle was used in attack
- Kansas City Chiefs Coach Andy Reid Reacts to Travis Kelce’s Heated Sideline Moment at Super Bowl 2024
- Singles' Day vs. Black Friday: Which Has the Best Deals for Smart Shoppers?
- Post-Roe v. Wade, more patients rely on early prenatal testing as states toughen abortion laws
Ranking
- Bowl projections: SEC teams joins College Football Playoff field
- Beyoncé's new country singles break the internet and highlight genre's Black roots
- See the Best Looks From New York Fashion Week’s Fall/Winter 2024 Runways
- Reluctant pastor’s son to most-viewed preacher: Shooting puts new spotlight on Joel Osteen
- Judge recuses himself in Arizona fake elector case after urging response to attacks on Kamala Harris
- Review: Justin Hartley makes a handsome network heartthrob in 'Tracker'
- What to know about a shooting at Joel Osteen’s megachurch in Texas during Sunday services
- Beyoncé's new country singles break the internet and highlight genre's Black roots
Recommendation
-
John Robinson, successful football coach at USC and with the LA Rams, has died at 89
-
State Farm commercial reuniting Arnold Schwarzenegger, Danny DeVito wins USA TODAY Ad Meter
-
Mahomes, the Chiefs, Taylor Swift and a thrilling game -- it all came together at the Super Bowl
-
Full transcript of Face the Nation, Feb. 11, 2024
-
Kansas basketball vs Michigan State live score updates, highlights, how to watch Champions Classic
-
Patrick Mahomes rallies the Chiefs to second straight Super Bowl title, 25-22 over 49ers in overtime
-
Give Patrick Mahomes and Brittany Mahomes a Trophy for Their Family Celebration After Super Bowl Win
-
Times Square shooting: 15-year-old teen arrested after woman shot, police chase