Planetary scientists have discovered a planet K2-315b, 0.95 times the size of Earth, orbiting its dwarf star for about 3.14 days, a numerical value for pi.
As you probe the universe with a space telescope, you'll discover tens of millions of worlds full of strangeness and exoticism. Every once in a while, one of these planets will surprise us with its unique characteristics.
At a corner of the universe, a team of astronomers discovered a planet about the same size as Earth that orbits its host star for just 3.14 days — the same number as the mathematical constant π.
A study published in the Journal of Astronomy detailed the findings.
On a newly discovered Earth-sized planet, astronomy meets mathematics, which runs for just 3.14 days. NASA Ames/JPL-Caltech/T. Pyle, MIT Christine Daniloff
While looking at old data recorded by NASA's Kepler Space Telescope K2 mission in 2017, astronomers spotted a signal that a potential planet orbited a cool little star. Scientists have used a network of ground-based telescopes in Chile's Atacama Desert to amplify the potential planet and call it the search for habitable planets that obscure ultracold stars (Speculoos). Observations confirm that these signals actually come from traces of an Earth-sized planet orbiting an ultracool dwarf.
The planet, called K2-315B, has a radius of 95% of Earth's and orbits a small-mass star about one-fifth the size of the Sun.
K2-315B traveled in its orbit at a speed of about 181,000 miles per hour, completing a one-week orbit around the star in just 3.14 days.
Prajwal Niraula, lead author of the paper and a graduate student in the Department of Earth, Atmospheric and Planetary Sciences (EAPS) at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), said in a note: "This planet operates as accurately as clockwork. ”
Astronomers can't help but associate the orbital period of planets with pi, π appear in many physical and mathematical formulas. Of course, π closer to 3.14159, there is no need to be too specific.
Julien De Wit, co-author of the new study and a member of the Kavli Institute for AstroPhysical And Space Research at MIT, said in a note: "Contemporary people need some of the occasional pleasures of life. ”
Unfortunately, it is likely that there will be no planetary aliens with Pi. Astronomers believe K2-315B is uninhabitable because its orbit is too close to its host star. The researchers say temperatures on the Earth-sized planet could reach 350 degrees Fahrenheit, which coincidentally is the perfect temperature for baking a pie.
Author Niraula said: "According to the general understanding, this planet is too hot to live. ”
But while π planet is deficient in terms of habitability, it makes up for its lack of being a testing ground for studying atmospheric conditions.
Astronomers believe the planet has a rocky core similar to Earth's, which makes it a good candidate to study the atmospheres of other planets. This information is useful when astronomers look for habitable conditions on other planets.
Co-author De Wit said: "We now know that we can mine and extract planetary data from archival data, and hopefully none of them will be overlooked, especially those that are very important and have a lot of influence. ”
We reported the discovery of an Earth-sized (0.95R⊕) transiting planet orbiting an M3.5 dwarf star on the 57PC, EPIC 249631677. The planet has a period of about 3.14 days, which is about equal to π. The probe was conducted using publicly available data from K2's 15th activity. We observed three other transits through the Southern and Northern Observatories, as well as stellar spectra from Keck/Hires, which allowed us to verify the planetary nature of the signal.
This proven planet is ideal for comparative extraterrestrial planetary studies. While transiting ultracold dwarf exoplanets are the best opportunity to use the James Webb Space Telescope for geoscientific exoplanet atmosphere studies, planets orbiting medium-M dwarfs within 100pc, such as EPIC 249631677b, will become increasingly easily observed by next-generation observatories.
Related knowledge
An extrasolar planet, or simply an exoplanet, is a planet located outside the solar system. As of October 20, 2021, a total of 4,531 exoplanets have been confirmed, of which about three-quarters were discovered through transits. These planets belong to 3364 planetary systems, of which 778 are multi-planetary. The Kepler mission has detected 18,000 planetary candidates, including 262 candidates located in potential habitable zones.
BY: inverse
FY: Luo Dao
If there is any infringement of the relevant content, please contact the author to delete it after the work is published
Please also obtain authorization to reprint, and pay attention to maintaining completeness and indicating source