Overview:
Astronomers have discovered PSR J2322–2650b, a rare planetary remnant orbiting a pulsar. Unlike typical planets, it likely formed from the stripped core of a former companion star and exists in one of the most extreme environments in the universe. This discovery challenges traditional ideas about planet formation and survival, providing new insights into the diversity of planetary systems.
A World Orbiting One of the Universe’s Most Extreme Objects
Astronomers keep finding planets that are very different from the ones in our solar system. PSR J2322–2650b is one of the most surprising. It is a Jupiter-sized world that orbits a pulsar, which is the dense, fast-spinning remnant of a massive star that exploded in a supernova. This system goes against long-held beliefs about how planets can form and live in space.
An Unusual Planetary System
PSR J2322–2650b was first identified by tiny variations in the radio pulses emitted by its host, the millisecond pulsar PSR J2322–2650. Pulsars spin hundreds of times a second, sending out radio waves in very regular patterns. Even tiny changes in the timing of these pulses can show that there is a companion orbiting the planet. This companion has a mass similar to Jupiter’s but orbits very closely — completing a revolution in just 7.8 hours around a neutron star roughly the mass of the Sun but only about 12 miles (20 km) in radius.
A Planet in a “Black Widow” System
The system is related to what astronomers call a black widow pulsar system, where a pulsar’s intense radiation can strip material from a companion. In this case, the companion is already at planetary mass, and its full history is still unknown. Scientists hypothesize that PSR J2322–2650b began as a more massive object and was reduced to planetary mass through this process.
Because it orbits so close to the pulsar, PSR J2322–2650b endures intense radiation and gravitational forces. These extreme conditions may distort the planet’s shape — stretching it into an elongated form rather than a perfect sphere.
A Planet with a Unique Atmosphere
You can’t see PSR J2322–2650b directly in reflected light, unlike planets that orbit normal stars. Scientists are looking into different ways to study the planet’s features, such as using infrared observations. Current models say that the atmosphere could mostly be made up of helium and carbon molecules, with very little oxygen or nitrogen. This is a combination that has never been seen before in the solar system. This strange chemistry might even produce unusual effects, such as soot clouds or diamond-like carbon under very high pressure, but these ideas are still theoretical. However, these ideas are still just ideas.
Extreme Conditions and Open Questions
The conditions on PSR J2322–2650b are much worse than those on any planet in our solar system. The planet’s dayside gets very hot, and tidal forces and radiation are always changing it. Scientists are still looking into basic questions like these:
- How did this object come to orbit a pulsar? Did it start as a more massive companion that was stripped down over time, or form in another way entirely? These questions are still open.
- What kinds of things could make an atmosphere with so much carbon?
- Can conventional theories of planet formation elucidate worlds in such extreme environments?
The unusual nature of PSR J2322–2650b suggests that planetary systems can form and evolve in ways that challenge traditional models.
Looking Ahead
Findings like PSR J2322–2650b are helping us learn more about what planets can be and where they can be found. Astronomers hope to find even more strange and extreme worlds as telescopes like the James Webb Space Telescope keep studying the universe. This will push the boundaries of planetary science.
Sources:
NASA — “Pulsars and Their Planetary Companions”
European Southern Observatory — “Exotic Worlds Orbiting Pulsars”
ATNF Pulsar Catalogue — “PSR J2322–2650 Data”
Space.com — “The Most Extreme Planets in the Universe”
Editor’s Disclaimer:
PSR J2322–2650b is a subject of ongoing astronomical research. Some details in this article, particularly regarding its atmosphere and interior composition, are based on current scientific models and hypotheses and may be updated as new observations become available.
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