News Astronomy

Against the odds, a burbling lava planet retains an atmosphere

The small exoplanet holds onto an atmosphere despite proximity to its star’s destructive blasts

An illustration shows a rocky planet orbiting close to a glowing red star against a dark background.

A roiling lava world beyond our solar system (illustrated) may retain its atmosphere despite being close to its star’s gas-wicking radiation.

NASA, ESA, CSA, Ralf Crawford/STScl

By Carly Kay

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