Renowned as a pulsar, PSR J1719-1438 spins on its axis every 5.8 milliseconds and is situated approximately 4000 light-years from Earth, prominently visible in the Serpens constellation. Precision timing measurements have revealed the existence of an exoplanet orbiting this pulsar.
Completing an orbital revolution in a mere two hours and 10 minutes, this exoplanet maintains a relatively close proximity to the pulsar, orbiting at a distance of just 600,000 km - less than a solar radius. Despite having a mass slightly greater than Jupiter, its radius is only 40% of the Jovian planet, indicating an extremely high-density composition, primarily of carbon. This unique density gives PSR J1719-1438b a structure akin to a diamond!
In truth, this diamond-like exoplanet is the residual core of a formerly massive star, stripped of its gaseous mantle by the pulsar during the acceleration process, resulting in its current rapid rotation speed. PSR J1719-1438 and its diamond exoplanet continue to fascinate astronomers and astrophysicists, shedding light on the intriguing transformations possible in the universe.
Credit: NASA/JPL-CALTECH/R. HURT (SSC).
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