YZ Ceti b [UPSC Current Affairs]

Astronomers recently detected a repeating radio signal from an exoplanet called YZ Ceti b that suggests the presence of a magnetic field which is one of the prerequisites of habitable planets. Read on to know more about exoplanet – YZ Ceti b, an important topic for the IAS exam, science and technology segment.

The magnetic field in the Exoplanet – YZ Ceti b:

• The discovery was made using a Very Large Array radio telescope in New Mexico which matched the orbital period of the planet YZ Ceti b.
• From these findings, astronomers deduced that the signals were a result of the interaction between the planet’s magnetic field and the star.
• In a similar manner aurora lights are produced on Earth, intense energy bursts from the YZ Ceti star-exoplanet exchange also produce spectacular auroral lights.
• These energy bursts are received in the form of radio waves indirectly which are strong enough to be picked up on Earth. This detection helped astronomers to confirm the presence of a magnetic field on the planet YZ Ceti b.
• Production of such signals is only possible if the exoplanet orbits the parent star very closely and has its own magnetic field to influence the stellar wind and generate the signals.
• The planet YZ Ceti b takes two earth days to circle its star.
• Astronomers have discovered numerous planets orbiting stars similar to the sun, which suggests that planet formation is more common in the universe’s galaxies.
• In the Milky Way Galaxy alone there is the existence of more than 300 billion planets according to data from space-science missions such as Kepler, Gaia, and the James Webb space telescopes.
• A planet has to be at a certain range from its star called the “Goldilocks zone” to have an atmosphere and sustain water.

Significance of Magnetic field:

• With more discoveries, it is evident that strong planetary magnetic fields are common outside the solar system. 
• However, despite many exoplanets possessing magnetic fields, until now scientists have never been able to identify such fields on smaller, rocky exoplanets.
• One of the scientists said that further confirmation of the latest findings will demonstrate the ability of the methodology to lead towards the magnetic characterisation of exoplanets.
• The presence of a magnetic field is important because it protects the atmosphere of the planet from being eroded by the charged particles blowing in from its star.

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