A giant mirror in space

Researchers have spotted a planet beyond our solar system, that orbits a sun-like star every 19 hours and appears to be wrapped in metallic clouds made of titanium and silicates that reflect most incoming light back into space.

A giant mirror in space. Photo: tasnimnews.com

It reflects about 80% of incoming light, making it the universe's most reflective object known.

Venus reflects about 75% of incoming light. Earth reflects about 30%.

The planet, named LTT9779b, and its star are located in our Milky Way galaxy about 264 light years from Earth in the direction of the constellation Sculptor.

The planet's diameter is about 4.7 times greater than Earth, and it orbits very close to its star.

Its surface temperature is about 3,270 degrees Fahrenheit, hotter than molten lava.

Researchers believe its clouds are metallic, a combination of titanium and silicate.

YOU MAY ALSO LIKE

New Stellar Danger

Astronomers using data from NASA’s Chandra X-ray Observatory and other telescopes have identified a new threat to life on planets like Earth.

15 Years of Radio Data Reveals Evidence of Space-Time Murmur

Scientists have found evidence of a universal background of gravitational waves, or ripples in the fabric of space-time.

Webb Makes First Detection of Crucial Carbon Molecule

A team of international scientists has used NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope to detect a new carbon compound in space for the first time.

Webb Rules Out Thick Carbon Dioxide Atmospheres for Rocky Exoplanets

An international team of researchers has used NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope to calculate the amount of heat energy coming from the rocky exoplanet TRAPPIST-1 c. The result suggests that the planet’s atmosphere – if it exists at all – is extremely thin.

NASA Cassini Data Reveals Building Block for Life in Enceladus’ Ocean

Phosphorus, a key chemical element for many biological processes, has been found in icy grains emitted by the small moon and is likely abundant in its subsurface ocean.

New Study of Uranus’ Large Moons Shows 4 May Hold Water

The work is based on new modeling and explores how oceans could exist in unlikely places in our solar system.