The Volcano Planet LHS 3844b - The Cosmic Companion March 5, 2021

Evidence for plate tectonics are seen on an exoplanet for the first time. And this alien geology is just out of this world!

The volcano planet LHS 3844b might be filled with active volcanoes covering half its surface, forming a glowing red alien world!

An artist’s concept of LHS 3844b, showing the day side of this planet awash with volcanic activity. Image credit: The Cosmic Companion / Created in NASA’s Eyes

Like the volcano planet Mustafar from Star Wars, half of the exoplanet 3844b could be covered in active volcanoes. This planet, discovered in 2019, could be the first world we know, outside the solar system, to have plate tectonics, which guides much of geology on our own world.

On Earth, plate tectonics drives earthquakes and builds mighty mountains, and it ferries materials from beneath the surface of the Earth, expelling material to the crust and atmosphere. This movement of the crustal plates of Earth also plays a crucial role in the return of these materials back underground, completing the geological process.

This tectonic cycle, essential to driving climatic conditions on Earth, has never been observed on a world outside our solar system — until now.

Read more: https://thecosmiccompanion.net/the-volcano-planet-lhs-3844b

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