April 30, 2024

Strange Neptune-Sized Planet Is Denser Than Steel – May Be Result of a Giant Planetary Clash

Exoplanet TOI-1853bs unusually high density and mass may be due to significant planetary accidents, shedding light on planet development processes. A current study in the journal Nature highlights the unique qualities of the world, which has nearly double the mass and an uncommonly high density compared to other similar-sized worlds. This planet provides new evidence for the prevalence of giant effects in the formation of planets throughout the galaxy. This discovery helps to link theories for planet development based on the solar system to the development of exoplanets. The discovery of this severe planet supplies new insights into the formation and evolution of planetary systems.

Elder Research Associate and co-author Dr. Phil Carter from the University of Bristols School of Physics, discussed: “We have strong proof for extremely energetic crashes between planetary bodies in our planetary system, such as the presence of Earths Moon, and good evidence from a small number of exoplanets.
” We understand that there is a huge variety of worlds in exoplanetary systems; numerous have no analog in our solar system however often have masses and compositions in between that of the rocky planets and Neptune/Uranus (the ice giants).
Graphic of TOI-1853b. A recent study in the journal Nature highlights the unique attributes of the planet, which has nearly double the mass and an abnormally high density compared to other similar-sized planets. Credit: Luca Naponiello
Modeling Extreme Planetary Impacts
” Our contribution to the research study was to design extreme giant effects that could possibly eliminate the lighter atmosphere and water/ice from the initial larger planet in order to produce the severe density determined,” Carter stated.
” We discovered that the initial planetary body would likely have needed to be water-rich and suffer an extreme giant effect at a speed of higher than 75 km/s in order to produce TOI-1853b as it is observed.”
This planet supplies brand-new evidence for the occurrence of huge effects in the development of planets throughout the galaxy. This discovery assists to link theories for world formation based upon the planetary system to the formation of exoplanets. The discovery of this extreme world provides brand-new insights into the formation and evolution of planetary systems.
An Extreme Planet with Unexpected Characteristics
Postgraduate trainee and co-author Jingyao Dou said: “This world is very surprising! Typically we anticipate worlds forming with this much rock to become gas giants like Jupiter which have densities similar to water.
” TOI-1853b is the size of Neptune but has a density higher than steel. Our work reveals that this can happen if the planet experienced exceptionally energetic planet-planet accidents during its development.
” These crashes removed away a few of the lighter atmosphere and water leaving a significantly rock-enriched, high-density world.”
Now the team plans in-depth follow-up observations of TOI-1853b to attempt to spot any recurring environment and examine its structure.
Associate Professor and co-author Dr. Zoë Leinhardt concluded: “We had not formerly investigated such extreme huge impacts as they are not something we had actually expected. There is much work to be done to enhance the material designs that underlie our simulations, and to extend the variety of extreme huge effects modeled.”
Recommendation: “A super-massive Neptune-sized planet” by Luca Naponiello, Luigi Mancini, Alessandro Sozzetti, Aldo S. Bonomo, Alessandro Morbidelli, Jingyao Dou, Li Zeng, Zoe M. Leinhardt, Katia Biazzo, Patricio E. Cubillos, Matteo Pinamonti, Daniele Locci, Antonio Maggio, Mario Damasso, Antonino F. Lanza, Jack J. Lissauer, Karen A. Collins, Philip J. Carter, Eric L. N. Jensen, Andrea Bignamini, Walter Boschin, Luke G. Bouma, David R. Ciardi, Rosario Cosentino, Silvano Desidera, Xavier Dumusque, Aldo F. M. Fiorenzano, Akihiko Fukui, Paolo Giacobbe, Crystal L. Gnilka, Adriano Ghedina, Gloria Guilluy, Avet Harutyunyan, Steve B. Howell, Jon M. Jenkins, Michael B. Lund, John F. Kielkopf, Katie V. Lester, Luca Malavolta, Andrew W. Mann, Rachel A. Matson, Elisabeth C. Matthews, Domenico Nardiello, Norio Narita, Emanuele Pace, Isabella Pagano, Enric Palle, Marco Pedani, Sara Seager, Joshua E. Schlieder, Richard P. Schwarz, Avi Shporer, Joseph D. Twicken, Joshua N. Winn, Carl Ziegler and Tiziano Zingales, 30 August 2023, Nature.DOI: 10.1038/ s41586-023-06499-2.
The simulations were carried out using the computational centers of the Advanced Computing Research Centre, University of Bristol. Funders consist of Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC) and China Scholarship Council.

Impact simulation. Exoplanet TOI-1853bs abnormally high density and mass may be due to considerable planetary collisions, shedding light on world development procedures. Credit: Jingyao Dou
New Giant Planet Is Evidence of Possible Planetary Collisions
A Neptune-sized world denser than steel has actually been found by a worldwide team of astronomers, who think its composition could be the outcome of a huge planetary clash.
TOI-1853bs mass is practically twice that of any other similar-sized planet known and its density is exceptionally high, implying that it is made up of a bigger portion of rock than would generally be expected at that scale.
In the research study, published today (August 31) in the journal Nature, researchers led by Luca Naponiello of University of Rome Tor Vergata recommend that this is the outcome of planetary crashes. These substantial effects would have gotten rid of a few of the lighter atmosphere and water leaving a wide range of rock behind.