Located approximately 32 light-years away from our solar system, the red dwarf Star AU Microscopii is wreaking havoc on its own planet, AU Microscopii b. Through its high-energy radiation, the star appears to be slowly stripping away the atmosphere of the planet. This chaotic phenomenon has been observed thanks to NASA’s Hubble Space Telescope.
AU Microscopii b, a planet about four times the size of Earth, had the unfortunate fate of being located only 6 million miles from its star, which happens to be a red dwarf. Red dwarfs are known for being wilder and more extreme than our sun. Additionally, AU Microscopii is one of the youngest stars in existence, at just 23 million years old.
Using the Hubble Space Telescope, researchers discovered that the material causing the dimming of starlight during a transit of AU Microscopii b was located deeper than the planet itself. It appeared as though the material was pulling ahead of the planet. This suggested that planetary material was escaping from the planet, due to the intense radiation from the red dwarf.
While atmospheric escape caused by aggressive host stars is not a new concept, this observation is unique because it is the first time scientists have witnessed this phenomenon happening to a “normal” planet. AU Microscopii b provides crucial insights into atmospheric escape during the formative stage of an exoplanetary system.
Understanding atmospheric escape is a critical factor in studying exoplanets and their evolution. It allows scientists to decode the characteristics of exoplanets beyond our solar system and gain insight into their daily lives and challenges. It also helps researchers determine the mechanism behind atmospheric escape and how exoplanets lose their atmospheres.
Further study of AU Microscopii b and similar systems could lead to a better understanding of the diverse nature of exoplanets and their interactions with their host stars.
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