Its a world that’s been revisited plenty in the last few years, returning in Rogue One, The Rise of Skywalker and the hugely enjoyable Vader’s Castle series from IDW, but as with many colourful Star Wars worlds it’s perhaps one best viewed from far, far away. That might not be the case any longer as scientists discover the snappily named planet K2-141b, which makes Mustafar look like a Porgs picnic.
According to a new study published in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, scientists from McGill University, York University and the Indian Institute of Science Education have uncovered details of one of the newest “lava planets” — a world that so closely orbits its host star that much of it is composed of flowing lava oceans.
Scientists found the atmosphere and weather cycle of K2-141b to be particularly bizarre. The Earth-sized exoplanet appears to have a surface, ocean and atmosphere all made of the same ingredients: rocks.
While analyzing the planet’s illumination pattern, scientists found that about two-thirds of the planet experiences perpetual daylight. K2-141b’s close proximity to its star gravitationally locks it in place — meaning the same side always faces the star.
This scorching hot part of the planet reaches temperatures of over 5,400 degrees Fahrenheit. It’s hot enough to not only melt rocks, but also vaporize them, creating a thin, inhospitable atmosphere.
The rest of the planet is cloaked in never-ending darkness, reaching frigid temperatures of negative 328 degrees Fahrenheit.
Rumours of a castle being found on the surface have yet to be substantiated, but could be verified when the James Webb Space Telescope launches next year.
