Using the 3.5-meter telescope at Kitt Peak Observatory in Arizona, astronomers have now discovered a highly unusual exoplanet: a gas giant 150,000 kilometers larger than Jupiter in diameter, but so dense that it would even float on water. That’s why scientists call it the “marshmallow” planet.
The planet, catalog named TOI-3757b, orbits a cool red dwarf star about 580 light-years from Earth, the researchers said. The exotic celestial body is the “fluffiest gas giant planet” ever discovered around this type of star, according to researchers NOIRLab of the National Science Foundation, a government-funded research and development center for ground-based nighttime optical and infrared astronomy.
The average density of TOI-3757b is therefore only 0.27 grams per cubic centimeter. It is about half the size of Saturn, the lowest density planet in our solar system. Due to its low density, the newly discovered gas giant would even float in water, the researchers report on the NOIRLab website.
It is not yet clear why the giant planet is so light. The researchers believe that two factors may be responsible. One explanation is that TOI-3757b’s rocky core formed more slowly, delaying the start of gas accretion and thereby affecting the planet’s overall density.
Orbits very close to its central star
The low density may also be related to the narrow orbit of the “Marshmallow” planet, which orbits its central star in just three and a half days. This is elliptical and sometimes the gas giant comes very close to its star. This causes the exoplanet to overheat, causing the atmosphere to swell.
Webb telescope to solve the mystery
“Further observations of this planet’s atmosphere with the new James Webb Space Telescope (pictured above) could help learn more details about its composition,” said Jessica Libby-Roberts of Pennsylvania State University, who is a co-author. of the cited research is the NOIRLab website.
Source: Krone
I’m Wayne Wickman, a professional journalist and author for Today Times Live. My specialty is covering global news and current events, offering readers a unique perspective on the world’s most pressing issues. I’m passionate about storytelling and helping people stay informed on the goings-on of our planet.
