Experts have detected a star-planet interaction never seen before. The interaction is taking place between the stellar magnetic field of the exoplanet HIP 67522b, which is as wide as Jupiter and as small as Neptune, and its star HIP 67522. Interactions are taking place between the two magnetic fields, which is giving rise to solar flares from the star. According to astrophysicist Ekaterina Ilin of the Netherlands Institute for Radio Astronomy, this process has been going on for about 3 years, which will provide a lot of information for her research.
HIP 67522 and HIP 67522b
The latest findings show the interaction between a planet and its host star in a way that experts have never been able to witness before. This is the case of the exoplanet HIP 67522b and its Sun-like star, HIP 67522. Apparently, the system is only 17 million years old, which is very little in astrophysical terms. It is 408 light-years away, and has been starring in this phenomenon for 3 years.
The exoplanet orbits its star once every 7 days (6.95 days), with a width similar to that of Jupiter, but only a % of its mass. Following this discovery, astrophysicist Ekaterina Ilin of the Netherlands Institute for Radio Astronomy stated “We have found the first clear evidence of magnetic star-planet interaction, where a planet triggers energetic eruptions in its host star.”
What is happening between the planet and the star?
As the planet orbits around its star, its magnetic field interacts with the star’s magnetic field, collecting energy and releasing it into the star through the magnetic field. What happens? This energy returns to the star as if it were the blow of a whip, which causes a solar flare in the direction of HIP 67522b.
According to Lin, “The waves it sends along the star’s magnetic field lines initiate the flares at specific times. But the energy of the flares is much higher than the energy of the waves. We think the waves are triggering explosions that are waiting to happen”.
What are the consequences of this event?
Experts have recorded 15 flares over a 5-year period, and calculated that the exoplanet is receiving six times more radiation than if these solar flares were not occurring. The state of the planet suggests that these flares are causing its atmosphere to heat up, causing it to escape into space. It is estimated that in just 100 million years, its size will shrink to that of Neptune. In other words, the planet itself is causing its star to generate these strong solar flares, which are firing uncontrollably against itself. In this way, it is overheating its atmosphere and gradually reducing its mass and size.
What is next for scientific researchers?
The researchers had never witnessed this type of event before, so they have been amazed. Given that this interaction between the exoplanet HIP 67522b and its star HIP 67522 has been going on for 3 years, the data that can be obtained and analyzed about it are of great quantity and importance. Likewise, experts believe that this would not be the only case. The next step they believe necessary, in addition to the study of this interaction, is the search for other similar systems within our galaxy, the Milky Way. In this way, different cases of this phenomenon could be compared and more reliable conclusions could be obtained.
Do you know about this latest NASA discovery? It will leave you speechless!
