Evolution of hypothetical planetary system with sub-Neptunes (IMAGE)
Caption
Using a newly developed tool to sift through data from the NASA’s Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite, a team led by a Penn State astronomer has identified young sub-Neptune planets close to their stars and found that a variety of cosmic process may have shaped their size and location. In this hypothetical planetary system depicted over time, the planets b through f are depicted at three distinct stages: 10–100 Myr (top panel), 100 Myr–1 Gyr (middle panel), and >1 Gyr (bottom panel). This progression highlights key processes shaping the system, such as atmospheric mass loss and compositional evolution driven by stellar radiation and planetary interactions.
Credit
Abigail Minnich (abbyminnich.wixsite.com/film)
Usage Restrictions
Credit must be given to the creator. Adaptations must be shared under the same terms.
License
CC BY-SA