In a groundbreaking discovery, astronomers have found the heaviest element ever detected in an exoplanet's atmosphere.
The researchers from the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) used the Echelle SPectrograph for Rocky Exoplanets and Stable Spectroscopic Observations (ESPRESSO) to study the distant "ultra-hot Jupiter" exoplanet, MASCARA-4b, and made an astonishing find.
PASADENA, CA - OCTOBER 24: The same Volcanoes on Jupiter's moon Io are compared in these images from NASA's Galileo spacecraft (R) taken in early September 1996 and from the Voyager spacecraft (L) taken in 1979. The volcano Prometheus (upper right ring) shows new lava flows (dark areas in the ring) as scientists study the differences in the moon's surface since the two images were taken.
Finding Rubidium and Samarium
The gas giant, which orbits a bright A-type star 556 light-years away from Earth, has an equilibrium temperature of 2,250 K and a size of about 1.51 Jupiter radii. The researchers found rubidium and samarium in the planet's atmosphere for the first time, alongside ions of titanium and barium.
The discovery of rubidium and samarium is particularly notable. With an atomic number of 62, samarium is the heaviest element ever detected in an exoplanet's atmosphere.
The detection of samarium in the atmosphere of MASCARA-4 b is significant as it represents the first time a lanthanide series element has been identified in an exoplanet.
This discovery can potentially provide important clues about the formation of heavy elements in the universe.
The researchers employed the cutting-edge ESPRESSO spectrograph, a fiber-fed ultra-stable echelle high-resolution spectrograph mounted on the Very Large Telescope (VLT) at European Southern Observatory (ESO) in Cerro Paranal, Chile.
The team observed two transits of MASCARA-4 b, which occurred on February 13, 2020, and March 1, 2020, as part of the ESO programs 0104.C-0605. Using data obtained during the transits, the scientists examined the elements and ions in the planet's atmosphere.
Notable Progress
The study of MASCARA-4b marks notable progress in comprehending the composition of ultra-hot Jupiters. Due to their extensive atmospheric scale heights and transmission spectroscopy metrics, these planets are perfect candidates for atmospheric examination.
The team's discovery of these elements at high altitudes proposes that these planets may undergo atmospheric phenomena that remain a mystery.
Furthermore, they validated prior identifications of magnesium, calcium, chromium, and iron in the atmosphere of MASCARA-4b.
"Higher precision HRS [high-resolution spectroscopic] studies should be further conducted on UHJs to reveal the presence of additional species and even some relatively abundant minor isotopes," the researchers wrote in their paper.
This discovery could have profound implications for understanding how heavy elements form in the universe.
By studying the atmospheres of exoplanets, astronomers can gain valuable insights into the composition of these distant worlds and how they may have formed.
As we continue to explore the cosmos, discoveries like this will help us to paint a complete picture of the universe and our place in it.
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