“The largest mirror in the universe.” The secret of a new planet from which light emanates
“The largest mirror in the universe.” The secret of a new planet from which light emanates
About 3 years ago, scientists discovered a strange exoplanet, very hot and slightly larger than Neptune, orbiting a sun-like star every 19 hours.
Astronomers have concluded that clouds of metal vapor are the reason why the planet, “the most light-reflecting,” gets the title of “the largest mirror in the universe,” according to the “Space” scientific website.
The planet, called LTT9779 b, is located about 264 light-years from Earth, is five times larger, and reflects about 80% of the light that shines on it from its parent star.
By comparison, Earth reflects only 30% of the sun's rays, and Venus, the brightest planet in our solar system, reflects only 75%.
The planet's great reflective ability is due to the dense metallic clouds that surround it and "rain drops of titanium," according to the site.
Its temperature is 2000 degrees Celsius
The planet was first discovered by one of NASA's satellites in 2020, but its outer surroundings were not understood until after data sent by a European Space Agency spacecraft.
The planet's surface temperature is about two thousand degrees Celsius.
The research team believes that LTT9779 b got its metallic clouds and high albedo when its atmosphere was saturated with silicates and metal vapor due to the scorching temperatures on the side of the planet permanently opposite its sun.
Source: websites