Want to tell someone to go to hell? Well, you can actually point someone to its exact location instead of pointing to the ground thanks to a new discovery of the hell planet.
Scientists have discovered a new, infernal “hell” exoplanet. With a cute nickname like “hell planet,” chances for human inhabitation is slim to non-existent. Why? Because the planets has oceans made of lava, raindrops made of rocks, and the winds are supersonic. Not the most ideal place for a getaway from Earth. We’ll just stick to Mars, thank you very much.
While the universe has no limits on freaky planets, the hell planet is one of the most extreme planets ever discovered by scientists. Officially named K2-141b, the planet is located around 200 light-years from us, and is slightly larger than Earth.
According to a Canadian-authored paper in the Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, the planet also has a polarizing, extreme side, which is made up of ice. It is tidally located to nearby star, which means one-half receives constant daylight and is close to 3,000 degrees Celsius, perfect for a good tan. The other side is enveloped in darkness and experiences frigid -200-degree Celsius temperatures, so bring your coat.
Astronomers have known about the planet since 2018, but a Canadian team used illumination patterns to learn more about its surface and weather.
“Our finding likely means that the atmosphere extends a little beyond the shore of the magma ocean, making it easier to spot with space telescopes,” co-author Nicolas Cowan of McGill University told CBS News.
Naturally, it didn’t take time for the memes to erupt on the new discovery, with many calling it Mustafar from Star Wars.
