Imagine a faraway, deserted world that rains molten metal and has super-hot dust clouds. A team of scientists led by University of Edinburgh discovered this. The relatively young planet – just 20 million years old – called PSO J318.5-22, had not yet been born when dinosaurs roamed our Earth. The planet does not orbit any star. It does not have a sun, unlike Earth. The study’s leader Dr. Beth Biller at Edinburgh University and her team believe their results may improve scientists’ ability to determine the weather conditions on distant planets, particularly those that could sustain human life. PSO J318.5-22 is a sunless world, with super-hot clouds and molten iron rain. The team published their findings in The Astrophysical journal Letters. They used the telescope of La Silla Paranal Observatory in Chile to collect data about the weather system on this distant object. They captured many infrared images as the object rotated for five hours. It is covered in ultra-hot clouds. Scientists compared the brightness of this body to other nearby bodies and discovered that its surface was covered with many layers. As PSO J318.5-22 rotates, the clouds cause its brightness to change. PSO J318.5-22, which is 74 light-years away, is about the same weight as Jupiter – the biggest planet in our solar system. It is eight times smaller than Jupiter and has a much lower density. This planet-like object’s clouds are extremely hot inside, exceeding 800 degree Celsius. Because the planet has no sun, Dr. Biller was able to measure its brightness and change in brightness with great accuracy. It is difficult to determine the brightness of planets orbiting stars because they emit a lot of light. Dr. Beth Biller is Chancellor’s Fellow Astronomy. Her interests in research include direct detection of extrasolar planets. Image: roe.ac.uk. Studying sun-like planets The researchers believe their method can be used to investigate planets orbiting stars. This technique can be used to investigate planets that are cooler and denser, which is where life could exist as it exists today. Dr. Biller said, “This discovery shows how common clouds are on planets and other planet-like objects. This technique is being extended to large planets orbiting young stars. Eventually, we will be able to detect weather on Earth-like exoplanets. Refer to: Variability in a Young L/T Transition Planetary Mass Object” by Niall Deacon and Beth A. Biller. Also, Mariangela Bonavita (Michael Bonnefoy), Mickael Bonniefoy, Johanna Vos., Esther Buenzli. Claire Baxter. Katelyn Allers, Ian J. M. Crossfield. The Astrophysical Journal Letters. October 30, 2015. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10. 1088/2041-8205/813/2/L23.
