In a groundbreaking discovery, a team of researchers has uncovered a strange exoplanet named TOI-6713.01 in a distant star system. This planet, located slightly larger than Earth, orbits its sun in just 2.2 days and is covered in active volcanoes that create a fiery red glow when viewed from space. The discovery of TOI-6713.01 has been documented in a study published in The Astronomical Journal.
NASA’s Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS) provided hints that the planet’s surface is covered in molten lava from hundreds of erupting volcanoes, with temperatures exceeding 4,200 degrees Fahrenheit. Astrophysicist Stephen Kane, who led the discovery, compared the planet to “Io on steroids,” highlighting its exceptional volcanic activity.
The newly discovered planet orbits a dwarf star 66 light years away from Earth. Its highly elliptical orbit is likened to Mercury’s, but TOI-6713.01 orbits incredibly close to its sun. The planet is influenced by gravitational tides from two other nearby planets, causing its molten interior to stretch and twist as it orbits closer and farther from its star.
Follow-up observations will be needed to confirm the existence of this unique, melting planet and to further study its fascinating volcanic activity.
