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<\/p>\nExoplanets all over the universe come in different sizes, compositions, colors, and temperatures. However, they typically don\u2019t come in different shapes, as nearly every single planet ever discovered is thought to be spherical in shape \u2014 except for one.<\/p>\n
New data from the European Space Agency\u2019s (ESA) Characterising Exoplanets Satellite (CHEOPS) space observatory, as well as data collected by the NASA\/ESA Hubble Space Telescope and NASA\u2019s Spitzer Space Telescope, has revealed the shape of an exoplanet that features many extreme characteristics. The CHEOPS data is the first time astrophysicists have ever detected the deformation of an exoplanet and provides valuable information into the internal structure of exoplanets.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
WASP-103b<\/p>\n
The planet in question is WASP-103b, a super-Jupiter exoplanet located in the constellation Hercules. WASP-103b orbits the star WASP-103, an F-type main-sequence star that is located 1,800 \u00b1 100 light-years away from our solar system. WASP-103 is about 1.7 times larger than our Sun and is around 200 degrees hotter.<\/p>\n
WASP-103b has many unique features. Discovered in 2014, it is approximately twice the size and 1.5 times the mass of Jupiter, features an atmosphere that contains water, and orbits its star in less than a day. The exoplanet was discovered via the transit method, wherein a star is observed as an exoplanet transits it \u2014 allowing scientists to calculate the contents of a planet\u2019s atmosphere (if it has one) and its size.<\/p>\n
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ESA infographic providing information on WASP-103b and WASP-103. (Credit: ESA)<\/p>\n
The extremely short orbital period of WASP-103b is the main cause of the planet\u2019s odd shape. The reason for WASP-103b\u2019s short orbital period is the distance at which it orbits WASP-103 \u2014 with the exoplanet\u2019s semi-major axis being an astonishing 0.01987 astronomical units (AU) \u2014 one AU being the approximate average distance between the Sun and the Earth. The smaller the orbit of a planet, the faster it will orbit its host star.<\/p>\n
Like Earth, WASP-103b experiences tidal tugging from its host star. However, WASP-103b\u2019s extremely tight orbit allows WASP-103 to exert a much stronger tidal force on the planet. This powerful tidal tug is what caused the deformation of WASP-103b.<\/p>\n
Astrophysicists and astronomers who have studied the WASP-103 system had for many years theorized that WASP-103b\u2019s star-hugging orbit would cause tidal deformation of the planet\u2019s crust. However, they hadn\u2019t been able to efficiently measure the exact amount of tidal force exerted on the exoplanet until CHEOPS\u2019 capabilities allowed them to do so.<\/p>\n
But how?<\/p>\n
CHEOPS is able to measure the specific properties of exoplanets by measuring the transits of exoplanets in front of the stars they orbit. As aforementioned, the transit method involved observing a star as an exoplanet crosses in front of it. When this occurs, the amount of light that is emitted by a star will dip and create a light curve, allowing scientists to measure characteristics including the shape, size, and atmospheric contents of the planet.<\/p>\n
Most telescopes are able to observe the transiting of an exoplanet; however, CHEOPS\u2019 advanced precision and flexibility allow it to observe very small changes in the light curve produced by an exoplanet transit event. This is precision is what allowed CHEOPS to observe the deformation in WASP-103b\u2019s shape.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s incredible that Cheops was actually able to reveal this tiny deformation,\u201d says Jacques Laskar of Paris Observatory, Universit\u00e9 Paris Sciences et Lettres, and co-author of the research. \u201cThis is the first time such analysis has been made, and we can hope that observing over a longer time interval will strengthen this observation and lead to better knowledge of the planet\u2019s internal structure.\u201d<\/p>\n
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An example of a light curve generated from an exoplanet transiting its star. (Credit: NASA Ames)<\/p>\n
Using the light curve CHEOPS produced from WASP-103b\u2019s transit of WASP-103, researchers were able to derive a value known as the Love number. The Love number measures the amount of mass and how mass is distributed within a planet. Having the Love number provides insight into the internal structure of a planet.<\/p>\n
The Love number derived for WASP-103b is similar to the Love number of Jupiter \u2014 hinting towards WASP-103b having a similar internal structure to Jupiter\u2019s, even though WASP-103b is around twice the radius of Jupiter.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe resistance of a material to being deformed depends on its composition,\u201d explains the study\u2019s lead author, Susana Barros of Portugal\u2019s Instituto de Astrof\u00edsica e Ci\u00eancias do Espa\u00e7o and the University of Porto.<\/p>\n
\u201cFor example, here on Earth we have tides due to the Moon and the Sun but we can only see tides in the oceans. The rocky part doesn\u2019t move that much. By measuring how much the planet is deformed we can tell how much of it is rocky, gaseous, or water.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cIn principle, we would expect a planet with 1.5 times the mass of the Jupiter to be roughly the same size, so WASP-103b must be very inflated due to heating from its star and maybe other mechanisms,\u201d said Barros.<\/p>\n
Although the derived Love number provides some insight into the inner workings of WASP-103b, it is quite high, and there is still some uncertainty in the viability of the number. The recently launched James Webb Space Telescope will work together with CHEOPS in the future to continue measuring the tidal deformation of WASP-103b and other exoplanets like it.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf we can confirm the details of its internal structure with future observations maybe we could better understand what makes it so inflated. Knowing the size of the core of this exoplanet will also be important to better understand how it formed,\u201d Barros explained.<\/p>\n