Using data from the Hubble Space Telescope, researchers have discovered the signature of a magnetic field in a planet outside our solar system.
- The exoplanet named HAT-P-11b, a Neptune-sized planet 123 light-years from Earth, pass directly across the face of its host star six times in what is known as a “transit.”
- Hubble telescope detected carbon ions – charged particles that interact with magnetic fields – surrounding the planet in what is known as a magnetosphere.
- According to the researchers, the discovery of HAT-P-11b’s magnetosphere is a significant step toward an improved understanding of the habitability of an exoplanet.
- The research paper, described in a paper in the journal Nature Astronomy, marks the first time such a feature has been seen on an exoplanet.
What is magnetic field?
- A magnetic field is an extended region of charged carbon particles that surround the planet and stream away from it in a long tail.
- Magnetic fields play a crucial role in protecting planetary atmospheres, so the ability to detect the magnetic fields of exoplanets is a significant step toward better understanding what these alien worlds may look like.
- Earth’s magnetic field acts as a shield against energetic particles from the sun known as the solar wind.
GS TIMES UPSC PRELIMS 2022 CURRENT AFFAIRS BASED BASICS DAILY ONLINE TEST CLICK HERE
CLICK HERE DAILY CURRENT AFFAIRS QUIZ FOR STATE CIVIL SERVICES
