Exoplanet collision likely stripped away a terrestrial world’s atmosphere – Astronomy Now
[ad_1]
Cataclysmic impacts like the one believed to have formed the Earth-Moon system are thought to be common in young, still-forming solar systems, but it’s been difficult to catch sight of such activity as it happens.
Now, astronomers at MIT, the National University of Ireland Galway, Cambridge University and other institutions have found signs of just such an impact 95 light years from Earth, a collision between an Earth-size terrestrial exoplanet and a smaller body that blasted away much of the larger planet’s atmosphere.
“This is the first time we’ve detected this phenomenon, of a stripped protoplanetary atmosphere in a giant impact,” said lead author Tajana Schneiderman, a graduate student in MIT’s Department of Earth, Atmospheric and Planetary Sciences. “Everyone is interested in observing a giant impact because we expect them to be common, but we don’t have evidence in a lot of systems for it. Now we have additional insight into these dynamics.”
Based on observations of unusual gas and dust around a young star known as HD 172555, including large amounts of carbon dioxide that would not normally be expected so close to a sun, the researchers concluded the best explanation was an impact at least 200,000 years ago that occurred at some 10 kilometres per second (22,000 mph).
The carbon dioxide was observed within about 10 astronomical units of the star. At that range, CO2 would be quickly broken down by solar radiation. But if it resulted from a collision in the last 200,000 years, one that blasted a large portion of a planet’s atmosphere into space, enough would still be present to explain the observations.
“Of all the scenarios, it’s the only one that can explain all the features of the data,” Schneiderman said. “In systems of this age, we expect there to be giant impacts, and we expect giant impacts to be really quite common. The timescales work out, the age works out, and the morphological and compositional constraints work out. The only plausible process that could produce carbon monoxide in this system in this context is a giant impact.”
The findings are presented this week in the journal Nature.
[ad_2]
Original Post
Some really superb information, Gladiola I observed this. “Carthago delenda est. (Carthage must be destroyed.)” by Marcius Porcius Cato.
F*ckin’ awesome things here. I am very glad to see your post. Thanks a lot and i’m looking forward to contact you. Will you please drop me a e-mail?
Very interesting details you have noted, thankyou for putting up.
Thanks a lot for sharing this with all of us you really know what you’re talking about! Bookmarked. Kindly also visit my web site =). We could have a link exchange contract between us!
I like assembling utile info, this post has got me even more info! .
As I web site possessor I believe the content material here is rattling great , appreciate it for your efforts. You should keep it up forever! Good Luck.
You have brought up a very good details , appreciate it for the post.
Woah! I’m really enjoying the template/theme of this site. It’s simple, yet effective. A lot of times it’s hard to get that “perfect balance” between superb usability and visual appeal. I must say you have done a superb job with this. In addition, the blog loads super quick for me on Opera. Outstanding Blog!
This really answered my problem, thank you!
I dugg some of you post as I cerebrated they were invaluable handy
Very interesting information!Perfect just what I was looking for!
Hi, Neat post. There’s a problem together with your site in web explorer, may test thisK IE still is the market leader and a big part of people will omit your great writing due to this problem.
Your place is valueble for me. Thanks!…
I’m impressed, I must say. Actually rarely do I encounter a blog that’s each educative and entertaining, and let me let you know, you’ve gotten hit the nail on the head. Your idea is outstanding; the problem is something that not enough people are talking intelligently about. I am very completely satisfied that I stumbled throughout this in my search for one thing regarding this.
Thanx for the effort, keep up the good work Great work, I am going to start a small Blog Engine course work using your site I hope you enjoy blogging with the popular BlogEngine.net.Thethoughts you express are really awesome. Hope you will right some more posts.
Great post, you have pointed out some excellent details , I also think this s a very good website.
Of course, what a splendid blog and educative posts, I surely will bookmark your blog.Have an awsome day!
Attractive section of content. I just stumbled upon your weblog and in accession capital to assert that I acquire in fact enjoyed account your blog posts. Any way I’ll be subscribing to your feeds and even I achievement you access consistently rapidly.
Having read this I thought it was very informative. I appreciate you taking the time and effort to put this article together. I once again find myself spending way to much time both reading and commenting. But so what, it was still worth it!
I am lucky that I noticed this web blog, exactly the right information that I was searching for! .
Great work! This is the type of information that should be shared around the web. Shame on Google for not positioning this post higher! Come on over and visit my website . Thanks =)
You really make it seem so easy with your presentation but I find this topic to be actually something that I think I would never understand. It seems too complex and very broad for me. I’m looking forward for your next post, I will try to get the hang of it!
I don’t unremarkably comment but I gotta state appreciate it for the post on this great one : D.
Thanks, I’ve recently been looking for info approximately this topic for ages and yours is the greatest I have discovered till now. However, what about the bottom line? Are you certain concerning the source?
I was reading through some of your blog posts on this website and I believe this site is really instructive! Retain posting.
This design is spectacular! You most certainly know how to keep a reader amused. Between your wit and your videos, I was almost moved to start my own blog (well, almost…HaHa!) Great job. I really enjoyed what you had to say, and more than that, how you presented it. Too cool!
I like what you guys are up too. Such clever work and reporting! Keep up the excellent works guys I have incorporated you guys to my blogroll. I think it will improve the value of my website 🙂
Just wish to say your article is as astonishing. The clearness on your submit is just cool and that i can suppose you are knowledgeable in this subject. Fine together with your permission allow me to grasp your RSS feed to keep updated with coming near near post. Thank you one million and please continue the rewarding work.
I like this post, enjoyed this one appreciate it for posting. “The basis of optimism is sheer terror.” by Oscar Wilde.
Do you have a spam issue on this blog; I also am a blogger, and I was wanting to know your situation; many of us have developed some nice methods and we are looking to swap techniques with others, please shoot me an e-mail if interested.
An interesting discussion is worth comment. I think that you should write more on this topic, it might not be a taboo subject but generally people are not enough to speak on such topics. To the next. Cheers
That is the suitable blog for anyone who needs to search out out about this topic. You realize so much its almost laborious to argue with you (not that I actually would need…HaHa). You definitely put a brand new spin on a topic thats been written about for years. Great stuff, simply great!
Wow! This blog looks just like my old one! It’s on a completely different topic but it has pretty much the same page layout and design. Wonderful choice of colors!
Hello! I just would like to give a huge thumbs up for the great info you have here on this post. I will be coming back to your blog for more soon.
I have recently started a site, the information you provide on this site has helped me tremendously. Thank you for all of your time & work. “Men must be taught as if you taught them not, And things unknown proposed as things forgot.” by Alexander Pope.
I like your writing style genuinely enjoying this web site.
I am so happy to read this. This is the kind of manual that needs to be given and not the accidental misinformation that is at the other blogs. Appreciate your sharing this greatest doc.
It is really a nice and useful piece of information. I’m glad that you shared this helpful info with us. Please keep us informed like this. Thank you for sharing.
It’s hard to find knowledgeable people on this topic, but you sound like you know what you’re talking about! Thanks
naturally like your website but you need to take a look at the spelling on several of your posts. A number of them are rife with spelling issues and I to find it very bothersome to inform the truth on the other hand I?¦ll certainly come back again.