File:Carbonplanet.jpg

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Captions

Captions

Artist's impression of a carbon planet

Summary

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Description
English: A carbon planet is a theoretical type of planet that contains more carbon than oxygen. Carbon is the fourth most abundant element in the universe by mass after hydrogen, helium, and oxygen.Carbon planets could form if protoplanetary discs are carbon-rich and oxygen-poor. They would develop differently from Earth, Mars, and Venus, which are composed mostly of silicon–oxygen compounds. Different planetary systems have different carbon-to-oxygen ratios, with the Solar System's terrestrial planets closer to being "oxygen planets" with C/O molar ratio of 0.55. 12% of stars have C/O ratios above 0.65, making them candidates for the carbon-rich planetary systems.The exoplanet 55 Cancri e, orbiting a host star with C/O molar ratio of 0.78, is a possible example of a carbon planet. The pulsar planets PSR B1257+12 A, B and C may be carbon planets that formed from the disruption of a carbon-producing star. Carbon planets might also be located near the Galactic Center or globular clusters orbiting the galaxy, where stars have a higher carbon-to-oxygen ratio than the Sun. When old stars die, they spew out large quantities of carbon. As time passes and more and more generations of stars end, the concentration of carbon, and carbon planets, will increase.Carbon planets would probably have an iron-rich core like the known terrestrial planets. Surrounding that would be molten silicon carbide and titanium carbide. Above that, a layer of carbon in the form of graphite, possibly with a kilometers-thick substratum of diamond if there is sufficient pressure. During volcanic eruptions, it is possible that diamonds from the interior could come up to the surface, resulting in mountains of diamonds and silicon carbides. The surface would contain frozen or liquid hydrocarbons (e.g., tar and methane) and carbon monoxide. A weather cycle is theoretically possible on carbon planets with an atmosphere, provided that the average surface temperature is below 77°C.However, carbon planets will probably be devoid of water, which cannot form because any oxygen delivered by comets or asteroids will react with the carbon on the surface. The atmosphere on a relatively cool carbon planet would consist primarily of carbon dioxide or carbon monoxide with a significant amount of carbon smog.Carbon planets are predicted to be of similar diameter to silicate and water planets of the same mass, potentially making them difficult to distinguish. The equivalents of geologic features on Earth may also be present, but with different compositions. For instance, the rivers might consist of oils. If the temperature is low enough (below 350 K), then gasses may be able to photochemically synthesize into long-chain hydrocarbons, which could rain down onto the surface.The spectra of carbon planets would lack water, but show the presence of carbonaceous substances, such as carbon monoxide.
Date
Source Own work
Author Pablo Carlos Budassi

Planet concept illustrated especially for Wikimedia Commons by Pablo Carlos Budassi. Source: https://www.pablocarlosbudassi.com/2021/02/planet-types.html Background image by ESO/Serge Brunier: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:ESO_-_Milky_Way.jpg Suggestions for improving this image are welcome: pablocarlosbudassi@gmail.com

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current14:12, 15 August 2023Thumbnail for version as of 14:12, 15 August 20231,080 × 1,080 (393 KB)Celestialobjects (talk | contribs)Uploaded own work with UploadWizard

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