Researchers find 'Forbidden Planet' in Neptunian Desert
- 5 years ago
SPACE — Astronomers have discovered a Neptune-like exoplanet called NGTS-4b in the Neptunian Desert region of a star, according to a study published in the Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society.
This is the first time this type of exoplanet has been found in a star's Neptunian Desert region, CNN reports.
Neptunian Desert refers to the area close to stars where no planets similar to Neptune's scale can be found. Stars send out strong radiation to this area. This causes planets to lose their gaseous atmosphere. They usually evaporate, leaving behind a rocky core.
According to the new research, NGTS-4b was spotted using a ground telescope called Next Generation Transit Survey.
The exoplanet, nicknamed, "The Forbidden Planet," is three times the size of Earth and has a radius that is only 20 percent smaller than Neptune. The exoplanet has temperatures of up to 1,000 degrees Celsius.
Space.com reports the new exoplanet orbits a star named NGTS-4, which is around 920 light years away from Earth. The exoplanet completes orbits of the star every 1.3 days, according to a University of Warwick press release.
Astronomers believe the exoplanet could have moved into the Neptunian Desert region at some point in the past one million years.
This is the first time this type of exoplanet has been found in a star's Neptunian Desert region, CNN reports.
Neptunian Desert refers to the area close to stars where no planets similar to Neptune's scale can be found. Stars send out strong radiation to this area. This causes planets to lose their gaseous atmosphere. They usually evaporate, leaving behind a rocky core.
According to the new research, NGTS-4b was spotted using a ground telescope called Next Generation Transit Survey.
The exoplanet, nicknamed, "The Forbidden Planet," is three times the size of Earth and has a radius that is only 20 percent smaller than Neptune. The exoplanet has temperatures of up to 1,000 degrees Celsius.
Space.com reports the new exoplanet orbits a star named NGTS-4, which is around 920 light years away from Earth. The exoplanet completes orbits of the star every 1.3 days, according to a University of Warwick press release.
Astronomers believe the exoplanet could have moved into the Neptunian Desert region at some point in the past one million years.