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Author Topic: 55 Cancri  (Read 1549 times)

Dragonoake

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55 Cancri
« on: January 12, 2020, 10:10:24 pm »
I was thinking about  55 Cancri, the so-called Diamond Planet https://www.space.com/18011-super-earth-planet-diamond-world.html, and while I don't claim to be an expert on the subject, I don't see the physics working from what I know about planet formation; and the discrepancy between the chemistry of the planet and that of the supposedly parent star further suggests that there is something very wrong with this picture.

Could it be more likely that the planet is actually the burned out core of a dead stellar companion?
And since the parameters and results of the Triple-alpha process of Nucleosynthesis in a Helium-burning star is fairly well understood, this hypothesis should be relatively easy to test

TheGreenWizard

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Re: 55 Cancri
« Reply #1 on: June 24, 2020, 12:38:33 am »
I was thinking about  55 Cancri, the so-called Diamond Planet https://www.space.com/18011-super-earth-planet-diamond-world.html, and while I don't claim to be an expert on the subject, I don't see the physics working from what I know about planet formation; and the discrepancy between the chemistry of the planet and that of the supposedly parent star further suggests that there is something very wrong with this picture.

Could it be more likely that the planet is actually the burned out core of a dead stellar companion?
And since the parameters and results of the Triple-alpha process of Nucleosynthesis in a Helium-burning star is fairly well understood, this hypothesis should be relatively easy to test

A few follow up studies were conducted, and here is an article that summarizes said studies in one place: https://www.space.com/37654-exoplanet-55-cancri-e-facts.html

Pretty doubtful it's a diamond planet, given that the host star doesn't have the correct composition of carbon to oxygen to help support the diamond theory. That said, it's still a weird planet - surface may be covered in runny lava or be generally volcanic in nature, the atmosphere has a lot of hydrogen and helium, and a few other interesting tidbits!
“You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself any direction you choose. You're on your own. And you know what you know. And YOU are the one who'll decide where to go...”
― Dr. Seuss, Oh, the Places You'll Go

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