Exoplanet K2-360 b, discovered by NASA in 2016, attracted the attention of scientists due to its exceptional density, which is about 11 grams per cubic centimeter, comparable to the density of lead and almost twice the density of Earth.
This is reported by “URA-Inform” with reference to Online.UA
The diameter of K2-360 b is 1.6 times larger than that of Earth, and its mass is 7.7 times larger. These characteristics make the planet one of the densest known celestial bodies. Scientists believe that it has a massive iron core, which makes up about 48% of its mass.
The peculiarity of K2-360 b is its orbital period: it makes a complete revolution around its star in just 21 hours . Such closeness to the star likely resulted in the loss of its atmosphere, leaving only a dense rocky core covered in lava flows.
Astronomers note that K2-360 b may have once been part of a larger planet that was located at a significant distance from its star. Intense radiation from the new location led to the evaporation of the outer layers, leaving only a super-dense core.
This discovery expands our knowledge of planet formation processes and provides a deeper understanding of the evolution of extreme celestial bodies. K2-360 b is part of a small group of objects, the study of which can shed light on the origin and nature of dense exoplanets.
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