Dense mega-Earth GJ 523b challenges planetary norms with thin atmosphere
TL;DR
Astronomers have identified GJ 523b, a dense 'mega-Earth' about 2.5 times Earth in size and around 23 times as massive, with a surprisingly thin atmosphere. Discovered by NASA’s TESS and examined with the WIYN telescope and the James Webb Space Telescope, the planet’s high density and lack of a thick gaseous envelope defy simple formation models, leading researchers to speculate that extreme heat or a past planetary collision stripped away much of its atmosphere and to push for a clearer definition of the Mega-Earth category.
Topics:sciencespace-and-astronomy#atmosphere-loss#exoplanets#gj-523b#jwst#mega-earth#space-and-astronomy
- Mystery "mega-planet" 23 times more massive than Earth baffles scientists Yahoo
- Researchers identify ‘Mega-Earth,’ prompting questions of how it formed NewsNation
- Mega-Earth GJ 523b is 23 times as massive as our planet—but only 2.5 times as wide Phys.org
- Astronomers discover a giant, rocky 'mega-Earth' 23 times more massive than our planet Space
- At 23.5 times Earth’s mass, GJ 523b is massive enough that standard planet-formation models struggle to explain why it didn’t accumulate a huge hydrogen-helium envelope — yet the planet is extraordinarily dense and apparently mostly rock, and astronomer Space Daily
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