Tuesday, August 12, 2025

This Is What Happens Inside Lava Planets

This artist's illustration shows the internal structure of a lava planet in a cold state, showing a day‑side magma ocean overlain by a mineral atmosphere. The arrows indicate the direction of heat transport within the planet’s interior and the thermal radiation emitted from its night side. Credit: Romain Jean-Jaques (Instagram: @romainjean.jacques)

Some exoplanets are so close to their stars that the rock is melted. Astronomers have dozens of these lava planets, maybe more because they're challenging to confirm. New research shows how the JWST can help astronomers understand them.



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