Warming the star of the planet

2004/02/01 Elhuyar Zientzia Iturria: Elhuyar aldizkaria

• Astronomia

(Photo: ANDÉN).

Astronomers have discovered that a planet's magnetic field creates a hot zone on the surface of its star. This hot zone at a temperature above 400 °C of the surrounding gas moves around the surface of the star following the orbital movement of the planet. According to the researchers, the effect of the magnetic field causes the release of heat in the atmosphere of the star.

Although it is normal for stars to warm the planet, for the first time they have seen the opposite, although they calculated years ago that it was possible. The observation was carried out in a system outside the Solar System. The planet studied is somewhat smaller than Jupiter and revolves around the star HD179949. It takes about 3 days to complete the complete orbit.