Scientists discover planet with a tail that extends 350,000 miles into space

A massive planet located 160 light years away now looks like a comet, complete with a tail that extends a massive 350,000 miles into space. The reason for this phenomenon is the distance between this planet and its host star. It is orbiting so close to its host star thatthe planet's atmosphere is boiling.

Thisplanet is the size of Jupiter and isshrinking in real time. According to astronomers, the planet is shedding the equivalent of one Earth every billion years, that isabout 200,000 tonnes per second.

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Theboiling is so intense that its atmosphere is now shedding, which is what has led to it developingacomet-like tail.

Named WASP-69b, the amount of heat that this planet is taking can be understood by the fact that it completes oneorbitof its host star in less than four days. Its orbit is so compact that the host star's intense radiation has vapourised the helium gas in the planet's atmosphere.

Discussing the planet's condition, lead researcher Dakotah Tyler said jokingly in a press conference on Tuesday at the American Astronomical Society, "This is an extreme environment. I would suggest that you do not consider retiring on this planet."

While this might sound like something unimaginable to us Earthlings, scientists say it might not be uncommon for planets to shed so much mass. In fact, the latest discovery mightsolvethe mysterious gap in the size of exoplanets.

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The comet-like tail ofWASP-69b

The tail that the planet has now developed, and which extends a whopping 350,000 miles into space, is one of the most fascinating pieces of news we have across from outer space in recent times. TheWASP-69b is shedding helium whichhas taken the shape of a tail, stretching at least seven times the planet's width. It is due to the host star's stream of charged particles and magnetic fields.

However, the hot host star might not be alone to blame for the planet shrinking. Scientists say that theplanet could also be shrinking because of radiation from the planet's core which is probably pushingthe atmosphere away.

Super-Earths and Sub-Neptunes

National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) has catalogued over 5,000 alien worlds and classified them into two rough categories. The first category is super-Earths, which includes planets about 1.6 times as wide as Earth. The other is sub-Neptunes, two to four times Earth's width.

Scientists think there are hardly any planets between these sizes because they shrink swiftly and turn into super-Earths. WASP-69b is more massive than a sub-Neptune, demonstrating the same boiling behaviour scientists suspected. Due to its giant size, scientists have ample time to examine it.

Erik Petigura, study co-author and UCLA professor of Physics and Astronomy said, "The WASP-69b system is a gem because we have a rare opportunity to study atmospheric mass-loss in real-time and understand the critical physics that shape thousands of other planets."

The study's authors believe that WASP-69b and its comet-like tail will help them explore more about the physics of space, like how planets and their host star evolve together over time.

(With inputs from agencies)