1000 upon thousands of extrasolar planet have been discovered in the last two ten , expanding our knowledge of how solar system shape . What we are yet to confirm is the presence of an exomoon , a minor consistency orbiting one of these planets . We ’ve seen wind withsome prospect objectsand now there is one more . It ’s quite peculiar .
research worker led by a squad at the University of Bern have uncovered evidence that points to the existence of a volcanic exomoon , like in behavior to Io , the volcanic moon of Jupiter . This potential lunation is in the WASP-49 organization , 640 light - years out . The organization feature one known exoplanet , WASP-49b , a gas giant slightly small than Jupiter .
The planet orbits the yellow midget star in just three daytime , which prepare it a pretty live and tightly bind system . In a paper accept for publication inThe Astrophysical Journaland currently useable onArXiv , the squad indicate that this is fundamental . The solid gravitative lunar time period could keep a moon ’s compass stable and make it volcanically active . Tidal warming is also what keeps Io ’s volcano exit .
The Jovian moon and Jupiter itself are the analogous system that the squad used to seek to work out what volcanically active exomoons might look like . By studying the discharge of K and sodium between Io and the gaseous state giant , they have expose some of import patterns . Volcanic moons seem to be a lot more efficient at throwing these elements into space compare to gas giants .
When these observance are use to the WASP-49 system , a volcanic exomoon becomes a very appealing and quite likely scenario . The researchers have found such impressive similarity that they are dubbing the potential exomoon an “ exo - Io ” .
“ The neutral sodium gasoline is so far away from the satellite that it is unlikely to be emitted solely by a planetary hint , ” lead author Dr Apurva Oza tell in astatement . “ Sodium and potassium contrast are quantum treasure to us uranologist because they are passing bright . The vintage street lamps that light up our street with yellow fog , is akin to the accelerator pedal we are now detecting in the spectrum of a dozen exoplanets . ”
While an exomoon full of vent is an exciting scenario , the squad admits that it is not the only potential explanation . The exoplanet might be enveloped in a ring of material full-bodied in sodium . Or there might be other processes at work here , completely unrelated to volcanism . As the researchers note , more clew are necessary .
