Molten Planet Reveals Extreme Conditions In Nearby Star System
Astronomers have identified a remarkable planet in a nearby region of the Milky Way that presents an extreme and hostile environment. The world features a vast, permanent ocean of magma and a dense, toxic atmosphere rich in sulfur. As a result, the planet stands apart from previously observed exoplanets due to its unusual composition and conditions.
The planet measures more than 60 percent larger in diameter than Earth. However, its density reaches only about 40 percent of Earth’s. It orbits a smaller and dimmer star located roughly 34 light years away in the constellation Volans. A light year represents the distance light travels in one year, equivalent to about 5.9 trillion miles or 9.5 trillion kilometres.
Structure Dominated By A Deep Magma Ocean
Researchers describe the planet as lacking internal layers typically seen in rocky worlds. Instead, a single deep and turbulent magma ocean dominates its structure. Consequently, the planet does not possess a defined crust, upper mantle, or lower mantle.
Scientists suggest that small crystals of solid rock may exist within this molten layer. Furthermore, the metallic core appears relatively small compared with the planet’s overall size. The magma ocean accounts for approximately 70 to 90 percent of the planet’s interior radius. This layer extends to depths between 2,775 and 3,565 miles.
Toxic Atmosphere Fuels Runaway Heating
The planet’s atmosphere consists mainly of hydrogen but contains a significant amount of sulfur. Around 10 percent of this atmosphere is hydrogen sulfide, a toxic gas known for its strong odour. As a result, the atmosphere creates a powerful greenhouse effect that traps heat efficiently.
This process keeps the surface temperature extremely high, ensuring that the magma ocean remains molten. Moreover, the atmospheric composition indicates a sulfur rich interior. Scientists believe this suggests a mineral composition unlike that found in planets within our solar system.
Observations And Evolution Over Billions Of Years
The planet was first discovered in 2019. Later observations using advanced telescopes in 2024 and 2025 provided further data. Researchers then used computer simulations to reconstruct its development over nearly five billion years, indicating that it is older than Earth.
The planet orbits a red dwarf star with less than 30 percent of the sun’s mass and about 1 percent of its luminosity. It is the third of five known planets in this system. Although other molten planets exist, most lie extremely close to their stars. In contrast, this planet maintains its molten state through a combination of atmospheric trapping, stellar radiation, and gravitational interactions.
Extreme Environment Rules Out Life
The surface temperature exceeds 1,500 degrees Celsius, making the planet unsuitable for life as currently understood. Therefore, it does not rank among promising candidates in the search for habitable worlds.
Nevertheless, the discovery highlights the diversity of planetary systems. Scientists continue to encounter new and unusual worlds, which expand understanding of planetary formation and behaviour under extreme conditions.
With inputs from Reuters