107
submitted 9 months ago by MicroWave@lemmy.world to c/science@lemmy.world

The exoplanet, TOI-715 b, is about one and a half times the width of Earth.

you are viewing a single comment's thread
view the rest of the comments
[-] EvilBit@lemmy.world 2 points 9 months ago

You’re assuming the same density.

[-] Neato@ttrpg.network 27 points 9 months ago

No, I'm not.

A Super-Earth is a type of exoplanet with a mass higher than Earth's, but substantially below those of the Solar System's ice giants, Uranus and Neptune, which are 14.5 and 17 times Earth's, respectively.[1] The term "super-Earth" refers only to the mass of the planet, and so does not imply anything about the surface conditions or habitability.

But regardless, a planet larger than earth but of a low enough density to be feasible would be unfeasible for other reasons. Namely we require a magnetosphere to survive on the surface and for atmospheres we can breath to exist. For that the planet likely needs an iron core, or another ferrous metal core. I guess there could be ways of generating a magnetosphere without a metal core, but I don't think scientists have figured out how that could work yet. Seeing as Iron is the end state of fission/fusion and is quite common in the universe, the majority of planets that have a viable magnetosphere probably uses this method.

That being said, the majority of the earth's mass is the mantle, molten rock. It's very unlikely suitable planets are made up of significantly less dense material than rock. And even without the core we'd replace the iron with rock and lower the overall mass by maaaaybe 20%. Still too massive to likely facilitate current rocket tech.

[-] TomAwsm@lemmy.world 2 points 9 months ago
this post was submitted on 06 Feb 2024
107 points (100.0% liked)

science

14595 readers
49 users here now

just science related topics. please contribute

note: clickbait sources/headlines aren't liked generally. I've posted crap sources and later deleted or edit to improve after complaints. whoops, sry

Rule 1) Be kind.

lemmy.world rules: https://mastodon.world/about

I don't screen everything, lrn2scroll

founded 1 year ago
MODERATORS