There are exoplanets with Earth-like geochemistry

2019/10/17 Etxebeste Aduriz, Egoitz - Elhuyar Zientzia Iturria: Elhuyar aldizkaria

• Astrofisika

A study published in the journal Science concludes that some exoplanets have geochemical properties similar to Earth and Mars.

Most of the rocky materials in the Solar System present a high degree of oxidation due to the conditions in which protoplanetary rocks were formed around the Sun. This degree of oxidation directly affects these geochemical and geophysical properties of the planets. However, in exoplanets it is very difficult to measure such properties. Exoplanets now analyze the traces of a clash against a white dwarf (core of a dead star) and analyze the oxidation levels of these planets. They have been measured in six white dwarfs and have come to the conclusion that the rocky planets revolving around these stars were similar to those of Earth, Mars and the asteroids of the solar system, and distinct from Mercury, for example.