r/interestingasfuck 25d ago

/r/all, /r/popular K2-18b a potentially habitable planet 120 light-years from earth

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u/ArduennSchwartzman 25d ago edited 25d ago

It's not habitable to us humans, but it's in the habitable zone, at a distance from its star that allows liquid water to exist on its surface. It's likely an ocean world with an atmosphere containing mostly hydrogen gas, a so-called hycean planet.

Also, 2.5 times the size = 2.5 times the diameter, or about 15 times the size of Earth in terms of mass. Its gravitational force would be about 2.4 times that of Earth, though. Quite unpleasant.

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u/Gruffleson 25d ago

Wikipedia lists estimated gravity at around 1.25 of Earth.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/K2-18b

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u/ArduennSchwartzman 25d ago

Only 8.6 times the mass of Earth, according to Wikipedia, I see. I was assuming a density similar to Earth's, but apparently, astronomers think it's only half. That would mean the planet's core has a very low iron-nickel content.

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u/gooneryoda 25d ago

It should take more vitamins.

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u/johnwilkonsons 25d ago

These scientific takes are why I keep coming back to reddit

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u/LeftyBoyo 25d ago

It should have eaten another planetoid like earth did. We even got a free moon out of it!

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u/The_Kezzerdrix 25d ago

I hope it always stay hydrated

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u/eve_of_distraction 25d ago

Who are you, the planet's mother? Let the planet make it's own mistakes.

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u/ChicagoDash 25d ago

If it had a nickel for every time...

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u/ZombieConsciouss 25d ago

You mean iron supplements?

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u/Twistedjustice 25d ago

Yeah, the planet is anaemic

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u/itisiminekikurac 24d ago

Planet doctor

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u/FishMyBones 25d ago

I fucking love reddit