Scientists Find a Diamond Planet

Source : NASA/JPL-Caltech/R. Hurt (SSC)

Remember the old Beatles song, "Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds"? Well, there are really diamonds in the sky. But far, far away.

Astronomers have discovered an extremely carbon-rich planet - the first of its kind - which suggests its terrain may be littered with diamonds.  The lead scientist, Dr NikkuMadhusudhan said, "You might see land masses and mountains made up of diamonds". It's core is likely made up of molten diamonds or other carbon compounds.

Before anyone even dreams about exoplanet mining, this planet named Wasp-12b, is 1,200 light years away! It is also incredibly hot, at roughly 2300 degrees C on the side facing its nearby host star.

More on diamonds:

• The Kazanjian Red Diamond on Exhibit
• Mohs Scale of Mineral Hardness
• Tequila Diamond wins the 2009 Ig Nobel Prize for Chemistry
  

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Original Post by THE BEADING GEM
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