A groundbreaking discovery has been made by a team of researchers who found a strange planet named TOI-6713.01 in a distant star system. This exoplanet is unlike any other, with many active volcanoes that create a fiery red glow when viewed from space. The planet, slightly larger than Earth, completes its orbit in just 2.2 days.
The discovery of TOI-6713.01 was documented in a study published in The Astronomical Journal. NASA’s Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS) provided hints that the planet’s surface is covered in molten lava from hundreds of erupting volcanoes, with temperatures exceeding 4,200 degrees Fahrenheit. Astophysicist Stephen Kane, who led the discovery, compared the planet to “Io on steroids,” highlighting its exceptional volcanic activity.
This newly discovered planet orbits a dwarf star 66 light years away from Earth. Its highly elliptical orbit is likened to Mercury’s, but TOI-6713.01 orbits incredibly close to its sun. The planet is influenced by gravitational tides from two other nearby planets, causing its molten interior to stretch and twist as it orbits closer and farther from its star. Follow-up observations will be needed to confirm the existence of this unique, melting planet.
