Exploring the Hellish Planet Janssen: A Fiery Enigma
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Chapter 1: The Fiery Planet Janssen
Researchers have investigated an extreme exoplanet known as Janssen, which boasts surface temperatures reaching a scorching 2,300 degrees Celsius. The intense heat suggests that its surface is likely composed of liquid magma. Interestingly, scientists propose that this planet may have once been a typical rocky body, roughly double the size of Earth, before transforming into its current hellish state.
In the night sky, particularly visible through telescopes and occasionally with the naked eye, lies the Copernicus system, also known as 55 Cancri. This double star system is relatively close to us, situated just 41 light-years from our Sun. It consists of a main sequence star and a red dwarf, with the former hosting five orbiting planets, including the enigmatic Janssen — named after the 16th-century inventor of the optical telescope.
Janssen's proximity to its parent star is extreme; it completes an orbit in a mere 18 hours, resulting in a year that is shorter than a single day on Earth. This planet orbits just 2 million kilometers from the star, in stark contrast to Mercury's distance of 46 million kilometers from our Sun and Earth's 150 million kilometers.
Section 1.1: Characteristics of a Hellish World
If Janssen were situated slightly farther from Copernicus, it might resemble a standard super-Earth, characterized as a rocky planet larger than our own. With a radius nearly twice that of Earth and a mass eight times greater, Janssen's unique orbital path contributes to its extreme temperature conditions. Scientists estimate that the side of the planet facing its star reaches around 2,300 degrees Celsius, leading to a surface potentially covered in molten lava, with diamonds possibly lurking beneath.
Chapter 2: The Evolution of Janssen's Orbit
Recent publications in the journal Nature Astronomy reveal that Janssen may have originally existed in a cooler orbit. Over time, gravitational interactions with other planets in the system have pulled it closer to Copernicus. The star exhibits a slightly flattened shape at the poles and bulging at the equator, creating a gravitational pull that has influenced Janssen's current trajectory.
Unlike our solar system, where planets orbit in a similar plane, the Copernicus system presents a different scenario. This characteristic complicates the study of all its planets via the transit method, which involves observing a planet passing in front of its star from our viewpoint on Earth.
Section 2.1: Utilizing the Doppler Effect
In the case of Janssen, researchers successfully measured its transit across Copernicus using an advanced spectrometer known as EXPRES, located at Lowell Observatory in Arizona. This involved applying the Doppler effect, which describes how the wavelengths of light shift based on the relative motion of a light source. As the light moves closer to us, it appears blue; when it moves away, it appears red.
This principle also applies to a rotating star, where one side moves toward us while the other moves away, resulting in a slight color variation. Despite being minute, these differences are detectable by sensitive instruments like EXPRES, allowing scientists to accurately define Janssen's orbit.
Researchers believe that studying such planetary systems can yield insights into their historical evolution. They have also noted that another planet in the Copernicus system, Galileo, is currently on an orbit that lasts less than 15 days, leading to questions about its past orbital size.
In closing, it’s exciting to see advancements in our understanding of exoplanets and the potential for future discoveries in the search for extraterrestrial life.
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