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Star Rips Exoplanet to
Shreds with X-Rays
Some relationships are doomed from the beginning, and the same can be
said of some planetary systems.
Scientists using NASA's Chandra X-ray Observatory have identified a star
and its planet that are locked in a mutually volatile relationship.
Located 880 light-years away, the star CoRoT-2a is ruthlessly pummeling a
closely-orbiting planet with powerful X-rays, blasting an estimated 5 million
tons of material off of it every second! The planet, dubbed CoRoT-2b,
orbits its star at a distance of about 3 percent the distance between the
Earth and the sun -- only around 2.8 million miles -- and receives a
hundred thousand times the X-ray radiation that Earth receives.
In turn, the planet's close proximity may be responsible for keeping up the
high rotation rate of its star, increasing its magnetic activity and thus its
X-ray output. Talk about negative reinforcement!
A nearby companion star to CoRoT-2a does not exhibit this level of X-ray
activity, possibly due to a lack of a similar closely orbiting planet.
The image above is an artist's illustration of the system, showing a very
magnetically active star blowing clouds of material off a hapless planet.
Seen below, is an image made of X-ray data from Chandra and optical and
infrared data from the Panchromatic Robotic Optical Monitoring and
Polarimetry Telescopes (PROMPT) and the Two Micron All Sky Survey
(2MASS), showing the star CoRoT-2a in the center. Its purple glow
indicates it as an X-ray source.
The nearby star is the dimmer object just to the bottom right of CoRot-2a.
(The planet itself cannot be seen in this image.)
Discoveries like this are a testament to the many types of extreme and
exotic conditions that exoplanets may exist in. One can't help but realize
what a cozy spot our own planet has, considering the possible
alternatives!
Want more dirt on the CoRoT-2a couple? Read more about their rather
abusive relationship on the Chandra site here.
Star Rips Exoplanet to Shreds with X-Rays : Discovery News
Shreds with X-Rays
Some relationships are doomed from the beginning, and the same can be
said of some planetary systems.
Scientists using NASA's Chandra X-ray Observatory have identified a star
and its planet that are locked in a mutually volatile relationship.
Located 880 light-years away, the star CoRoT-2a is ruthlessly pummeling a
closely-orbiting planet with powerful X-rays, blasting an estimated 5 million
tons of material off of it every second! The planet, dubbed CoRoT-2b,
orbits its star at a distance of about 3 percent the distance between the
Earth and the sun -- only around 2.8 million miles -- and receives a
hundred thousand times the X-ray radiation that Earth receives.
In turn, the planet's close proximity may be responsible for keeping up the
high rotation rate of its star, increasing its magnetic activity and thus its
X-ray output. Talk about negative reinforcement!
A nearby companion star to CoRoT-2a does not exhibit this level of X-ray
activity, possibly due to a lack of a similar closely orbiting planet.
The image above is an artist's illustration of the system, showing a very
magnetically active star blowing clouds of material off a hapless planet.
Seen below, is an image made of X-ray data from Chandra and optical and
infrared data from the Panchromatic Robotic Optical Monitoring and
Polarimetry Telescopes (PROMPT) and the Two Micron All Sky Survey
(2MASS), showing the star CoRoT-2a in the center. Its purple glow
indicates it as an X-ray source.
The nearby star is the dimmer object just to the bottom right of CoRot-2a.
(The planet itself cannot be seen in this image.)
Discoveries like this are a testament to the many types of extreme and
exotic conditions that exoplanets may exist in. One can't help but realize
what a cozy spot our own planet has, considering the possible
alternatives!
Want more dirt on the CoRoT-2a couple? Read more about their rather
abusive relationship on the Chandra site here.
Star Rips Exoplanet to Shreds with X-Rays : Discovery News