A newly discovered exoplanet, dubbed WASP-69 b, has left scientists intrigued with its unconventional shape, boasting a long tail of gas trailing behind it.
Scientists Intrigued by Planet With Long Tail
A Giant Comet-Like Exoplanet Discovered
Astronomers have discovered an unusual exoplanet with a long “tail” of gas trailing behind it, not unlike a giant comet. The planet, dubbed WASP-69 b, is steadily shedding its atmosphere of hydrogen and helium particles, which are being shaped into the astonishing tail by harsh stellar winds blowing its way.
The Unusual Case of WASP-69 b
WASP-69 b is a hot Jupiter, which means it’s a gas giant roughly the mass of Jupiter but orbits its host star in the Aquarius constellation — some 164 light-years away from earth — at a much shorter distance. This causes its surface temperatures to soar due to the sheer amount of radiation from its host star. The lightweight gases including hydrogen and helium are “photoevaporating” into outer space, trailing the planet in an epic wake.
A Tail of Gas 350,000 Miles Long
The exoplanet’s tail is astonishingly long, extending more than 7.5 times its radius behind it, or 350,000 miles. This is roughly 1.5 times the distance between the Earth and the Moon. The team estimates that WASP-69 b is losing an estimated 200,000 tons of gas per second. While this may sound like a lot, every one billion years, the planet is losing the mass equivalent to planet Earth. This means it’s unlikely to ever run out of gas in its atmosphere.
Understanding the Unusual Phenomenon
As the stellar winds shift, WASP-69 b’s unusual appendage’s size and shape can change. Astronomers are only beginning to understand this phenomenon. Studying the escaping atmospheres of highly irradiated exoplanets is critical for understanding the physical mechanisms that shape the demographics of close-in planets.
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