The element samarium found in the atmosphere of the planet MASCARA-4b broke the record for the heaviest element of an extrasolar exoplanet.
Simulation of a planet belonging to the group of super hot Jupiters.
Simulation of a planet belonging to the group of super hot Jupiters. (Picture: ƝASA).
Researchers from the National Observatory of China have discovered the heaviest element in a planet’s atmosphere. Planet MASCARA-4 belongs to the group of super hot Jupiters, has a mass 3.1 times that of Jupiter and an atmosphere of several thousand degrees Celsius. Its extremely hot atmosphere shows traces of the element samarium with atomic number 62, Science IFL On April 20, this was reported.
“Every star and planet contains elements since its formation. Due to their large atomic number, they are often located in regions of low altitude and high pressure and are not easy to detect.”said Dr. Wei Wɑng, co-author of the study.
while samarium is the heaviest element in the atmospherethis exoplanet also contains rubidium (atomic number 37). Previously, the research team had confirmed the discovery of magnesium, calcium, chromium, iron, barium and titanium. The existence of titanium is interesting because experts have found titanium oxide in the ozone layer of the atmospheres of very hot Jupiters. According to the researchers, there may be less oxygen to help form the atmosphere and interact with the samarium. Samarium in the Earth’s atmosphere reacts with oxygen and water vapor.
Wang and his colleagues used Phile’s Very Large Telescope to measure starlight as the planet passed by. The atmosphere filters the light. Using spectrometers, the team was able to determine what types of elements are present in the planet’s atmosphere. A class A star, hotter and more massive than the Sun. The planet MASCARA-4 is very close to its host star (less than 5% of the distance between Earth and the Sun).
The team hopes further observations will pick up more elements and molecules in the planet’s atmosphere. Comparing the composition of the planet with that of the host star will help to better understand their formation and evolution. The study by Wang et al. has been approved for publication in the Astronomical Journal and is available on the arXiv database.
Article source: VnExpress
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The element samarium found in the atmosphere of the planet MASCARA-4b broke the record for the heaviest element of an extrasolar exoplanet.
