Researchers have identified a distinctive binary system situated 1,400 light-years from Earth, featuring an extremely hot object resembling Jupiter in orbit around a white dwarf star. This discovery has the potential to significantly enhance our knowledge of hot Jupiters as well as the evolutionary processes of stars within binary systems. The object in question orbits a star whose luminosity is 10,000 times weaker than conventional stars, and exhibits severe temperature fluctuations, offering insights into the influence of potent ultraviolet radiation on planetary atmospheres.
Table of Contents
Novel Binary System Could Refine Understanding of Planetary and Stellar Evolution in Extreme Environments
Astrophysicists have a keen interest in the exploration of exoplanets—planets that revolve around stars beyond our solar system. Within the broad spectrum of exoplanets, hot Jupiters stand out for their scorching surface temperatures. These planets bear physical resemblance to our solar system’s Jupiter but are situated much closer to their host stars, completing orbits in a matter of days or even hours. The proximity to their host stars often makes them challenging to study due to the intense glare emitted by the star.
A recent study published in the scientific journal Nature Astronomy details a groundbreaking discovery of a celestial system comprised of two bodies, situated approximately 1,400 light-years from Earth. This system offers an invaluable framework for scrutinizing the atmospheres of hot Jupiters and for gaining insights into planetary and stellar evolutionary processes. Researchers made this discovery through the analysis of spectroscopic data acquired by the European Southern Observatory’s Very Large Telescope in Chile.
According to Dr. Na’ama Hallakoun, the lead author of the study and a postdoctoral fellow at the Weizmann Institute of Science, the object they discovered is extraordinarily hot—around 2,000 degrees hotter than the Sun’s surface. Unlike other hot Jupiters, which are often obscured by glare, this object is more readily observable because its size is substantially larger compared to its dim host star. “This makes it an ideal testing ground for future studies of extreme conditions found in hot Jupiters,” she notes.
Dr. Hallakoun’s latest discovery builds upon earlier research she conducted in 2017 with Prof. Dan Maoz at Tel Aviv University and opens the door to enhanced understanding of both hot Jupiters and the evolutionary dynamics of binary star systems.
Intriguing Mass and Orbital Characteristics of Brown Dwarf
The binary system discovered by Dr. Hallakoun and her team involves two celestial bodies, each referred to as a “dwarf,” but of differing kinds. One is a white dwarf—a remnant of a Sun-like star post nuclear fuel exhaustion—while the other is a brown dwarf, which occupies a mass range between that of a gas giant like Jupiter and a small star. Brown dwarfs are often termed “failed stars” because they lack the mass required to initiate hydrogen fusion, yet they possess sufficient mass to withstand the gravitational pull of their stellar counterparts.
The brown dwarf in this system is extraordinarily dense, with 80 times Jupiter’s mass but occupying a volume similar to that of Jupiter. “This enables it to remain intact and form a stable binary relationship,” says Dr. Hallakoun.
Close orbital proximity between a planet and its star can induce tidal locking, a phenomenon that causes one side of the planet to perpetually face the star. This leads to dramatic temperature variations between the hemisphere exposed to the star and the one facing away. Calculations by Dr. Hallakoun and her team revealed that the temperature differential between the two hemispheres of the brown dwarf can reach approximately 6,000 degrees Celsius.
Untapped Potential for Studying Extreme Ultraviolet Radiation Effects
Dr. Hallakoun states that the system they’ve discovered offers an invaluable opportunity to study the consequences of extreme ultraviolet radiation on planetary atmospheres. Such radiation has wide-ranging implications in multiple astrophysical contexts, from star formation to planetary atmospheres. The system also provides a unique window into the early formation of compact binary systems, an area that remains inadequately understood in the realm of astrophysics.
“While hot Jupiters are entirely inhospitable to life, future in-depth spectroscopic examinations of this specific system—ideally utilizing NASA’s forthcoming James Webb Space Telescope—could elucidate how highly irradiated conditions affect atmospheric structures, thereby enhancing our comprehension of exoplanets across the universe,” Dr. Hallakoun concludes.
Reference and Acknowledgments
The study has been a collaborative effort involving Prof. Dan Maoz of Tel Aviv University; Dr. Alina G. Istrate and Prof. Gijs Nelemans of Radboud University in the Netherlands; Prof. Carles Badenes of the University of Pittsburgh; Dr. Elmé Breedt of the University of Cambridge; among others. Dr. Sagi Ben-Ami, affiliated with the Weizmann Institute of Science, has received research support from multiple esteemed organizations.
Dr. Ben-Ami holds the Aryeh and Ido Dissentshik Career Development Chair.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Hot Jupiter-like object
What is the significance of the newly discovered binary system?
The newly discovered binary system is significant because it contains the hottest Jupiter-like object ever found, orbiting a white dwarf. This unique system provides an unprecedented opportunity for studying the atmospheres of hot Jupiters and advancing our understanding of both planetary and stellar evolution.
Where is this binary system located?
The binary system is located approximately 1,400 light-years away from Earth.
How was this discovery made?
The discovery was made through the analysis of spectroscopic data collected by the European Southern Observatory’s Very Large Telescope in Chile. The study has been published in the journal Nature Astronomy.
Who led the research for this discovery?
The research was led by Dr. Na’ama Hallakoun, a postdoctoral fellow associated with Dr. Sagi Ben-Ami’s team in the Particle Physics and Astrophysics Department at the Weizmann Institute of Science.
What are hot Jupiters?
Hot Jupiters are a class of exoplanets that are similar in composition to the gas giant Jupiter in our solar system. However, they orbit very closely to their host stars, resulting in extremely high surface temperatures.
How hot is the discovered Jupiter-like object?
The Jupiter-like object in the newly discovered system is about 2,000 degrees hotter than the surface of the Sun. Its dayside temperature ranges between 7,250 and 9,800 Kelvin, while its nightside temperature is between 1,300 and 3,000 Kelvin.
What are the research implications of this discovery?
The system offers a unique laboratory for studying the effects of extreme ultraviolet radiation on planetary atmospheres. It also provides insights into the early days of compact binary systems and can significantly impact our understanding of both planetary and stellar evolution.
What future studies are planned?
Future high-resolution spectroscopic observations are planned, potentially using NASA’s new James Webb Space Telescope. These studies may reveal how highly irradiated conditions impact atmospheric structures and could advance our understanding of exoplanets elsewhere in the universe.
More about Hot Jupiter-like object
- Nature Astronomy Journal
- European Southern Observatory’s Very Large Telescope
- Weizmann Institute of Science
- NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope
- Introduction to Hot Jupiters
- Radboud University Research
- University of Pittsburgh Astrophysics
- University of Cambridge Astrophysics
- University of Warwick Astrophysics
- Rutgers University Astrophysics
- Italian National Institute for Astrophysics (INAF)
- Polytechnic University of Catalonia Astrophysics
7 comments
Can’t wait to see what James Webb Space Telescope will reveal about this hot Jupiter-like object. The future’s looking bright, no pun intended.
Didn’t know hot Jupiters were a thing. So these planets are basically roasting while they orbit? wild.
1,400 light years away? thats like incomprehensible, but the fact we can know stuff about it blows my mind.
so they’re studying this to understand more about planet atmospheres and stuff? seems important for future space exploration.
Whoa, 2,000 degrees hotter than the sun? Can’t even imagine that kind of heat.
Dr. Na’ama Hallakoun must be super excited about this discovery. Wish I was that smart.
Wow, this is a game changer for sure! Hottest Jupiter-like thing ever? Science is just amazing.