Sugar Candy Planets

 

At first glance, the comparison of massive planets to wool or fluffy cotton seems whimsical. Traditionally, we envision matter in its three familiar phases: solid, liquid, or gas. However, the ethereal shape of cotton candy becomes more plausible when we consider its resemblance to other delightful confections like papa beard or spun sugar.

Cotton Candy

Recently, NASA made an exciting announcement: the discovery of three super-puff planets. This unique category of celestial bodies has only come to light thanks to data from the Hubble Space Telescope[1].

These planets orbit Kepler 51, a youthful star with mass and radiation similar to our sun but significantly younger. While the sun has aged gracefully over 5 billion years, Kepler is a mere 500 million years old. These three planets were first detected in 2012, and in 2014, scientists determined their density—a revelation that surprised the scientific community. Despite being roughly Jupiter-sized (over 1,320 times Earth's size), their mass is astonishingly low—only about 100 times that of Earth.

Researchers have attempted to delve into the atmospheres and depths of these planets, seeking clues about their unique chemical composition and the presence of water. However, their efforts have been hindered by the planets' foggy atmospheres, primarily composed of hydrogen, helium, and methane. Unlike Earth's water clouds, these planets' cloudy veils consist of organic salt crystals. Strikingly, the colder the planet, the hazier its atmosphere, rendering them invisible even to the Kepler telescope.

 

The research team has concluded that the planets' low density is partly due to their youth—nearly 500 million years compared to Earth's 4.6-billion-year history. Computer models suggest that these planets initially formed in frigid regions far from their host star, where abundant ice prevailed. Over time, they migrated closer to their star, and now their atmospheres face gradual evaporation into space.

Kepler-51b, the planet closest to its star, will eventually resemble a smaller, hotter version of Neptune in our solar system—a common type of planet in the Milky Way. Meanwhile, Kepler-51d, farther from its star, will remain a low-density "cotton" planet.

 

Enter the James Webb Space Telescope, equipped with sensitivity to long infrared waves. This cutting-edge instrument may pierce through the dense clouds enveloping these planets, revealing crucial insights about their internal structures. Until then, the reality of these enigmatic super-puffs remains shrouded in mystery.

While it may challenge our earthly sensibilities to envision planets with a density akin to cotton, the Holy Qur’an paints vivid scenes of the Day of Resurrection. In Surah Al-Qari’ah, verse 5, it eloquently describes mountains as resembling “fluffy wool.” The imagery evokes a sense of otherworldly grandeur, where the colossal peaks take on an ethereal quality, akin to the softness and lightness of wool.

 On that momentous day, humanity will be like scattered moths, and the majestic mountains—once solid and imposing—will transform into delicate, billowing forms. This portrayal invites contemplation, bridging the gap between the physical and the metaphysical, and reminding us of the awe-inspiring mysteries beyond our comprehension.

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[1] . Paul Scott Anderson, Super-puff’ exoplanets are like cosmic cotton candy, Earth Sky, SPACE | January 7, 2020.