A team of researchers has made a groundbreaking discovery of a strange planet named TOI-6713.01 located in a distant star system. This exoplanet is showing signs of potentially melting from within due to its numerous active volcanoes that give it a fiery red glow when viewed from space. The researchers noted that they had never observed a planet like this before and plan to conduct further observations to confirm its existence.
The discovery of this unique planet has been detailed in a study published in The Astronomical Journal. This planet, slightly larger than Earth, is orbiting a dwarf star approximately 66 light years away. It completes its orbit in just 2.2 days, showcasing a highly elliptical path similar to Mercury in our solar system.
NASA’s Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS) has indicated that the surface of this planet is covered in molten lava, with temperatures exceeding 4,200 degrees Fahrenheit. Lead researcher, Stephen Kane, described it as “Io on steroids”, referencing Jupiter’s volcanic moon. This rare planet experiences gravitational tides from two nearby planets, causing its molten interior to stretch and twist as it orbits closely to its star.
The proximity of TOI-6713.01 to its sun and the gravitational interactions from neighboring planets contribute to its extreme conditions. The researchers are fascinated by this discovery and are eager to conduct follow-up observations to further understand this mysterious world.
