Roasting marshmallow' exoplanet is so hot, it rains metal. How did it form?

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WASP-121b is like nothing in the solar system, raining liquid metal and being puffy like a marshmallow. The origins of these "toasted marshmallow" planets could be more complicated than thought.

Roasting marshmallow' exoplanet is so hot, it rains metal. How did it form? : Read more

 

[m4n8tpr8b]

The article says that the study determined the ratio of rocky matter to icy gaseous matter, so I wondered whether, on one hand, the loss of icy gaseous matter to space was considered, and, on the other hand, whether possible gain of rocky material during the inward spiralling was considered.

Checking the original article, I find that the study did much more than determine the ratio of rocky matter to icy gaseous matter: they determined several different ratios, mostly related to elements heavier than helium, and thus less likely to be lost to space. Meanwhile, the paper does acknowledge the possibility that rocky planetesimals were absorbed by the planet during its inward migration, and thus acknowledge that formation a bit further out is possible.

This is a very interesting study; but of course, before drawing any significant conclusions, we need further studies of further objects to have a larger sample.