To Earth’s inhabitants, diamonds are precious gems famous for their beauty and scarcity. But imagine if a planet were made almost entirely of diamonds! Such is the case with a newly discovered planet called 55 Cancri e, which was discovered in 2011. According to National Geographic, the diamond planet was first detected as it orbited its parent star and its discovery has led to incredible findings.
The diamond planet is only twice the size of Earth but has eight times its mass, classifying it as a “super Earth.” Unlike our home, 55 Cancri e orbits its parent star in only 18 hours! As a result, its surface temperatures reach a scorching 3,900 degrees Fahrenheit making the planet uninhabitable. However, the intense heat plus an abundant supply of carbon are the two main factors for the incredible amount of diamond on 55 Cancri e.
Studies led by Nikku Madhusudhan on 55 Cancri e and its parent star have found that both are rich in carbon, leading to the belief that its entire planetary system may be as well. Should this hypothesis be correct, it would result in an entirely new class of planets since most discovered planets—like those in our solar system—are dominated by oxygen and silicates.
Located in the constellation Cancer at only 40 light-years away, 55 Cancri e is relatively close to Earth. While it is unsure if other planets like 55 Cancri e exist, it is exciting to know that scientists have found an entirely new class of diamond-rich planets that share some similarities with our own!
Filed under: Current Events, Newsletter | Tagged: 55 Cancri e, Carbon, Diamonds, Discovery, space, Super Earth | 6 Comments »
