Scientists Discover L98-59d, a Planet 60% Larger Than Earth
Astronomers have recently made a breakthrough by identifying a unique planet with an unprecedented hellish landscape and atmosphere.
The planet orbits a nearby star in the Milky Way and features a surface covered in molten magma, surrounded by a scorching, sulfur-rich atmosphere.
Scientists have discovered a planet named L98-59d, which is significantly larger than Earth and orbits a small red star about 35 light-years away.
The planet’s diameter is 60 percent greater than Earth’s, yet its density is only around 40 percent that of our planet. Initially thought to be covered in deep oceans, new data suggest it represents a type of world never seen before.
With a molten surface and massive waves likely rolling across its magma ocean, surface temperatures are estimated to reach 900 °C (3,500 °F). The atmosphere is rich in hydrogen sulfide, giving it a strong odor of rotten eggs, making the planet inhospitable to life.
“The whole thing really is in a mushy, molten state. It’s like molasses. It’s likely that this planet’s core would also be molten,” said Dr. Harrison Nicholls of the University of Oxford.
He added, “The planet lacks a distinct structure within its magma ocean, so there is no crust, upper mantle, or lower mantle.”
Commenting on the planet’s alien nature, Nicholls said, “If there are aliens out there that could live in lava, that would be amazing, but I don’t think it’s likely to be habitable. It’s fascinating to revel in the alienness of the planet itself.”
Researchers say this discovery expands our understanding of planetary diversity beyond the solar system and highlights the possibility of other exotic worlds yet to be found.
Since the 1990s, more than 6,100 exoplanets—planets outside our solar system—have been discovered, but this bizarrely molten planet is the first of its kind.
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