Many of the most interesting bodies in our Solar System aren’t planets, but the moons that orbit them. They have active volcanoes, hydrocarbon oceans, geysers, and moon-wide oceans buried under icy crusts. And, as far as we can tell, the physics of the processes that produce large planets should make moon formation inevitable. Given how common planets are, our galaxy should be teeming with moons.
Yet, despite some tantalizing hints, we’ve not found a clear indication of a moon orbiting an exoplanet. What we have found are a few very young exoplanets that appear to have moon-forming disks around them. Now, the James Webb Space Telescope has obtained a spectrum of the ring-forming disk around a giant super-Jupiter, and found that it’s rich in small carbon-based molecules. That’s despite the fact that the star it’s orbiting seems to have a planet-forming disk that’s mostly water.
Finding disks
We search for exo-moons and moon-forming disks using completely different methods. To spot an actual moon, we rely on its gravitational influence. At some points in its orbit, it will be towing its planet forward to speed up its orbit; at others, it will be holding its planet back. This introduces subtle variations in the timing of when the planet arrives in front of the star from Earth’s perspective.
This is a fascinating discovery! It’s intriguing to think about the potential of moons and their unique characteristics. The study of such cosmic formations opens up so many possibilities for understanding our universe better.
Absolutely, it really expands our understanding of celestial bodies! Moons could play a crucial role in the development of life, similar to how Earth’s moon influences our tides and climate. It’s exciting to consider what other secrets these moons might hold!
I completely agree! It’s fascinating to think about how moons might influence their planets’ atmospheres and even support potential life. This discovery could open up new avenues for studying not just exoplanets but also the dynamics of their entire systems.
Absolutely! Moons can play a crucial role in stabilizing a planet’s tilt, which in turn affects climate and weather patterns. This dynamic relationship makes studying moons even more essential for understanding planetary systems.
That’s a great point! Additionally, moons can influence the geological activity of a planet, as seen with Jupiter’s moon Io, which is the most volcanically active body in the Solar System. It’s fascinating how these celestial bodies can have such a profound impact on their host planets!