A team of astronomers has discovered an Earth - type planet that may harbor intense volcanic activity . Dubbed "LP 791-18 d," this world lies about 90 light-years from our solar system and was discovered by astronomers at the "Trottier Institute for Research on Exoplanets (iREx)" at the University of Montreal. Thanks to observations from the TESS and Spitzer space telescopes, combined with those from ground-based telescopes, astronomers have discovered this Earth-like world . LP 791-18 d orbits a small red star together with two other rocky planets, and has one side permanently exposed to the star, while the other remains in shadow.
Studying the planetary system, the astronomers discovered that the new planet is undergoing the gravitational pull of its larger companion LP 791-18 c. Each flyby of the more massive planet deforms LP 791-18 d, creating internal friction that can heat the planet's depths causing it to produce intense volcanic activity on its surface .
“LP 791-18 d has one side constantly facing its star,” said Björn Benneke, professor of astronomy at iREx. “The day side is probably too hot for liquid water to exist on the surface. But the amount of volcanic activity that we suspect is planet-wide could sustain an atmosphere, which would allow water to condense on the night side ."
The possible existence of seas and lakes on the night side , together with the materials ejected by volcanic eruptions, could make this strange volcanic world a possible candidate for hosting life. The new James Webb Space Telescope could observe the atmosphere of LP 791-18 in the next few years and reveal whether this world could be a cradle for life .