Scientists Discover New Metal-Rich Planet 60 Times Heavier Than Earth.
Scientists have found a new planet outside our solar system that’s five times bigger and 60 times heavier than Earth by using an advanced spectroscope in Rajasthan on Saturday.
This was discovered by the international team of scientists led by the Physical Research Laboratory (PRL) from Ahmedabad.
This planet, called TOI-6651b is special because it’s located in a rare region called the Neptunian desert.
TOI-6651b is 690 light years away from the Sun. It orbits around a star similar to the Sun, but takes only five days to complete one revolution. For comparison, Earth takes 365 days.
TOI-6651b has a rich metal core mostly made of iron that makes up 87% of its mass. The rest is a thin layer of hydrogen and helium gases.
Its surface temperature is a scorching 1,200 degrees Celsius, making it uninhabitable.
Scientists used a high-end spectroscope called PARAS-2 at Mount Abu in Rajasthan to detect TOI-6651b. This instrument is designed to find super-Earth-like worlds.
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The Neptunian desert is a region near stars where Neptune-sized planets rarely exist. TOI-6651b is only the fourth exoplanet found in this desert.
Also, Scientists believe it was once a gas giant but transformed over time due to tidal processes.
Scientists Study found that TOI-6651b helps scientists understand how planets form and evolve.
Its unique composition and location provide valuable insights into the Neptunian desert’s boundaries, as per PRL.
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Additionally, the research team plans to refine the PARAS-2 instrument to discover even smaller planets and it is said that this breakthrough opens doors for further exploration of the universe and its many secrets.
The Physical Research Laboratory (PRL) is India’s leading space science institute, founded in 1947 by visionary Dr. Vikram Sarabhai.
As part of India’s Department of Space, PRL conducts crucial research in various fields including physics, space exploration, atmosphere and weather, astronomy, astrophysics, solar physics and planetary and Earth sciences.
This renowned laboratory plays a monumental role in advancing India’s space knowledge and exploration which makes it a cornerstone of the country’s space research endeavours.
