"Until now, astronomers would have placed a planet like this into one of two familiar categories - either a rocky 'gas-dwarf' with an atmosphere of hydrogen, or a water-rich world made of deep oceans and ice. But the new findings show it appears to belong to an entirely different class of planet boasting a global magma ocean extending thousands of kilometres below its surface."
"This vast molten reservoir allows the planet to store extremely large amounts of sulphur deep within its interior and maintain high levels of the smelly chemical in the atmosphere. Hydrogen sulphide gas, responsible for the smell of rotten eggs, appears to play a starring role there."
"The findings, published in the journal Nature Astronomy, could indicate the diversity of worlds in our galaxy is much greater than previously thought. Further investigation may yet show that rather pungent planets are surprisingly common."
Researchers at the University of Oxford used the James Webb Space Telescope to identify L 98-59 d, an exoplanet 35 light-years away with unprecedented characteristics. The planet, approximately 1.6 times Earth's size, features a global magma ocean extending thousands of kilometers below its surface. This molten reservoir stores massive amounts of sulphur, which releases hydrogen sulphide gas into the atmosphere, creating a rotten egg smell. The discovery reveals an entirely new planetary class distinct from previously known gas-dwarfs or water-rich worlds. Computer models helped scientists understand the planet's evolution and unusual composition. At five billion years old, L 98-59 d suggests planetary diversity in the galaxy exceeds current understanding.
#exoplanet-discovery #magma-ocean-planets #l-98-59-d #planetary-diversity #james-webb-space-telescope
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