The mystery of the ‘hell’ planet covered by lava

According to Sputnik radio (Russia), this planet, named 55 Cancri e, is located about 50 light-years from Earth and orbits a Sun-like star at a distance of nearly 2.4 million km, one fifth of the distance. between Mercury and the Sun.

With a surface temperature much higher than the melting point of typical rock-forming minerals, at the US National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) 55 Cancri e has been covered by an ocean of lava. The agency also points out that the planet is likely to have a day-night cycle. It may have a thin atmosphere that forms as the surface heats, melts, and evaporates during the day.

“In the evening, the water vapor cools and condenses to form lava droplets that flow back to the surface, returning to a solid state at nightfall.”NASA predicted.

55 Cancri e is named after one of the first discovery goals of NASA’s new James Webb Space Telescope. The telescope is expected to be fully operational in June.