Scientists
have found a planet outside of our solar system which could be a true diamond
in the rough.
This
gem of a planet is twice Earth’s size, according to the US-Franco team that
found it, and its surface appears to be covered in graphite and diamond.
Researchers
estimate that at least one-third of the new planet’s mass could be diamond.
The
gemstone planet, called ’55 Cancri e’, has a radius twice that of Earth’s and a
mass that’s eight times greater, making it a “super-Earth.” The planet is one of five found orbiting ’55
Cancri’, a sun-like star about 40 light years from Earth. Located in the constellation of Cancer, scientists
say the star can be seen with the naked eye.
Astronomers
first spotted the planet last year as it was transiting its star, which allowed
them to measure its radius for the first time.
Using that information, along with their most recent estimate of its
mass, researchers used computer modeling to speculate on the chemical
composition of the planet.
Previous
research revealed that the host star, 55 Cancri, has more carbon than it does
oxygen, leading the US-French team to confirm that significant amounts of
carbon and silicon carbide, with only a small amount of water ice, were
available during the planet’s formation.
Astronomers
initially assumed the diamond planet’s chemical composition was similar to
Earth’s and that 55 Cancri e contained a substantial quantity of super-heated
water. However, according to Yale University
The
identification of a carbon-rich super-Earth means scientists can no longer
assume that all distant rocky planets have chemical elements, interiors, atmospheres
or biologies similar to Earth, according to Madhusudhan.
Which
means there could be other gemstone planets out there just waiting to be
discovered. ---VOA News
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