New Discovery: Terbium Detected in Atmosphere of Ultrahot Jupiter KELT-9b By Gopakumar Rajan

This artist's concept shows planet KELT-9b orbiting its host star, KELT-9. It is the hottest gas giant planet discovered so far. Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech

Scientists from the University of Bern in Switzerland have made a remarkable discovery by detecting the rare earth element Terbium, a chemical element with the symbol Tb and atomic number 65; in the atmosphere of Ultrahot Jupiter KELT-9b. This newfound discovery has opened new possibilities of understanding the chemistry of planets hotter than our own sun.

KELT-9b, located approximately 650 light-years away, is one of the hottest planets known so far, and its atmosphere can reach up to 4,300 degrees Celsius. The temperature on the surface of KELT-9b can reach up to 7,800 degrees Celsius, making it too hot to sustain life as we know it.

Details of the Study:

The study published in the journal Nature Astronomy suggests that the Terbium detection was made using the CARMENES high-resolution spectrograph. Spectroscopy is a process that helps in identifying the chemical properties of celestial objects by examining their light.

Scientists used data from the transit observations -where the planet passes in front of its star - by the Hubble and Spitzer space telescopes to identify Terbium and other rare metals in KELT-9b's atmosphere.

The lead author of the study, Jens Hoeijmakers, explained that "Terbium is rare on Earth, but surprisingly common in the atmosphere of this hot exoplanet." The team also identified the presence of other materials, such as Chromium, Manganese, and Europium, which are rarely detected in other planets.

Implications of the Discovery:

The detection of Terbium and other rare materials in KELT-9b's atmosphere has wider implications on the understanding of the chemistry of Ultrahot Jupiters. It also gives deeper insights into the formation of planets and their evolution.

Furthermore, the discovery helps to identify which molecules can exist in such harsh environments, and it's a key step towards understanding how these planets' atmospheres evolve over time.

Conclusion:

The detection of Terbium in the atmosphere of Ultrahot Jupiter KELT-9b is a groundbreaking discovery that potentially opens up a new realm of knowledge about the chemical composition of planets outside our solar system.

It paves the way for future studies to explore the possibilities of discovering new materials and substances. The findings of this study are crucial in deepening our understanding of the formation and evolution of planets, especially those orbiting close to their parent stars.

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Reference:

Hoeijmakers, H. Jens et al. “Terbium Detection in the Ultrahot Jupiter KELT-9b’s Atmosphere.” Nature Astronomy, vol. 5, no. 6, 2021, pp. 551–556., doi:10.1038/s41550-021-01384-y.

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