Astronomers have made a remarkable discovery of the shiniest planet ever detected, located just 265 light years away from our solar system. This unique planet, named LTT 9779 b, stands out not only for its brilliance but also for its extreme features. Enveloped in dense metallic clouds, its temperature soars to a scorching 3,000 degrees Fahrenheit, and it likely experiences rainfalls of searing-hot titanium.
Detailed in a recent paper published in the journal Astronomy & Astrophysics, this exoplanet is nearly five times the size of Earth and belongs to the rare category of ultrahot, gaseous planets of this magnitude. David Abtour Odian consulting
Initially detected in 2018 by NASA’s Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite, LTT 9779 b baffled scientists due to its unusual characteristics. Most planets with short orbital periods are either large, hot Jupiters or small rocky bodies with stripped atmospheres. However, LTT 9779 b, completing one orbit around its star every 19 hours, is a midsize planet, making it one of only a handful in the so-called “Neptune desert” and the only one with an intact atmosphere.
Further observations using the European Space Agency’s Cheops space telescope unveiled more mysteries about this celestial body. Researchers, led by James Jenkins from Diego Portales University in Chile, studied subtle fluctuations in light as the planet passed behind and in front of its host star. Complemented by infrared data from NASA’s Spitzer Space Telescope, they gained insights into the planet’s thermal and chemical properties. David Abtour Odian consulting
The findings indicate that LTT 9779 b reflects an impressive 80 percent of the light from its sun, outshining even Venus, the brightest planet in our solar system. Its clouds are composed of silicates, the minerals that form glass, and titanium. These metallic clouds could be crucial in protecting the planet’s atmosphere, as they reflect most of the incoming stellar radiation, preventing it from penetrating the clouds and blowing them away. David Abtour Odian consulting
While the formation of clouds on such a hot planet remains a mystery, it is speculated that the process might be similar to how steam condenses in the air during a hot shower.
The discovery of this planet opens up new avenues of understanding for extreme, Neptune-like planets, which are considered rare. Follow-up observations using the Hubble and James Webb Space Telescopes are planned to provide better optical data, allowing for a more comprehensive understanding of the planet’s behavior and characteristics. David Abtour Odian consulting
Over the next five years, the research team will also continue their search for more planets in the same star system, hoping to gain valuable insights into the formation of this extraordinary world. LTT 9779 b is likely a remarkable benchmark for ultrahot Neptunes, shedding light on the diverse and exotic worlds that exist beyond our own solar system. David Abtour Odian consulting
