Astronomers have made a groundbreaking discovery of a planet disintegrating in a comet-like tail, shedding new light on the mysterious world beyond our solar system.
A team of astronomers from MIT’s Kavli Institute for Astrophysics and Space Research has made a groundbreaking discovery that sheds new light on the mysterious world beyond our solar system. Using NASA’s Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS), the researchers have detected a planet disintegrating at an alarming rate, producing a comet-like tail of debris.
The Kavli Institute for Astrophysics and Space Research (KIPAC) at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) is a leading research center focused on advancing our understanding of the universe.
Founded in 2006, the institute brings together experts from astronomy, astrophysics, and computer science to tackle complex questions about the cosmos.
KIPAC's researchers explore topics such as dark matter, dark energy, and the origins of the universe using cutting-edge computational methods and data analysis tools.
Launched in 2018, the Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS) is a space-based observatory designed to discover thousands of new exoplanets orbiting nearby stars.
With four cameras scanning the sky, TESS monitors the brightness of over 200,000 'stars' for periodic dimming patterns caused by transiting planets.
Since its deployment, TESS has discovered numerous exoplanet candidates, including several Earth-sized worlds and a few that could potentially host life.
Its findings have significantly expanded our understanding of planetary formation and the search for life beyond Earth.
The Disintegrating Planet
BD+05 4868 Ab, a small and rocky lava world, orbits a giant star about 140 light-years from Earth. With a mass similar to that of Mercury, the planet is rapidly crumbling due to its close proximity to its star. Every 30.5 hours, it completes an orbit around its host, shedding an enormous amount of surface minerals into space.
The Comet-like Tail
The extent of the tail is gargantuan, stretching up to 9 million kilometers long, or roughly half of the planet’s entire orbit. This phenomenon is unlike anything seen before in our solar system, with only three other disintegrating planets detected beyond Earth. BD+05 4868 Ab has the longest tail and deepest transits out of these four known disintegrating planets.
Roasting Away
The new planet was detected almost by happenstance, as the researchers were conducting typical planet vetting when they stumbled upon this unusual signal. The team suspects that the planet is roasting at around 1,600 degrees Celsius (3,000 degrees Fahrenheit), causing minerals on its surface to boil away and escape into space.
A Runaway Process
The low mass of BD+05 4868 Ab, between that of Mercury and the moon, makes it easy for the planet to lose mass. This loss of mass weakens its gravity, leading to an even more catastrophic evaporation process. The researchers predict that the planet may completely disintegrate in about 1 million to 2 million years.
Mineral Trail
The discovery of BD+05 4868 Ab has significant implications for our understanding of planetary formation and evolution. The team’s findings suggest that this planet is experiencing a catastrophic loss of mass, resulting in an evaporation process unlike anything seen before in our solar system.
Future Observations
To further study the mineral makeup of the dust tail, researchers plan to lead observations of BD+05 4868 Ab using NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope (JWST). This will be a unique opportunity to directly measure the interior composition of a rocky planet, shedding light on the diversity and potential habitability of terrestrial planets outside our solar system.
The James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) is a space observatory launched by NASA in December 2021.
Designed to study the universe in infrared light, JWST is the successor to the Hubble Space Telescope.
With its segmented primary mirror and sunshield, JWST can observe distant galaxies, stars, and planets with unprecedented precision.
Its instruments include a near-infrared camera, a mid-infrared instrument, and a near-infrared spectrograph.
JWST's observations will help scientists understand the formation of the first stars and galaxies in the universe.
A New Frontier in Research
The discovery of BD+05 4868 Ab marks an exciting new frontier in research, highlighting the importance of continued exploration and study of our universe. As scientists continue to unravel the mysteries of this disintegrating planet, they may uncover new insights into the formation and evolution of planetary systems beyond our own.
