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It’s highly unlikely that we’ll ever fully explore space. Most of the time, we can only speculate about the unknowns beyond our planet. At times, we may consider the laws of physics and imagine the possible existence of space bodies, cosmic events, and scenarios that could unfold.
When it comes to the space bodies that could be out there, scientists are certain that there are some truly extraordinary ones, including a gigantic object within our own solar system. Below, we’ll explore some of the most peculiar and captivating objects that might exist in space.
10. Planets Shaped Like Doughnuts
Though scientists have never discovered one, they believe doughnut-shaped planets may exist. These objects are referred to as toroid planets, with 'toroid' being the mathematical term for the shape of a doughnut. Normally, planets are spherical due to gravity pulling them inward, but they could become toroids if the outward force from their centers balances the gravitational pull.
If these toroid planets do exist, living on them wouldn’t be ideal. The planet would spin so rapidly that a single day would last only a few hours. Additionally, gravity would be incredibly weak at the equator but extremely strong at the poles, meaning a vacation at the equator could leave you much lighter.
On top of that, the climate would be harsh, with violent winds and catastrophic storms. Furthermore, temperatures would vary drastically depending on where you are on the planet.
9. A Moon That Has Its Own Moon
Scientists believe that some moons may have their own moons. These smaller moons orbit the larger moons, which in turn orbit planets. Researchers are already preparing a name for these smaller moons, so they aren’t caught off guard when one is finally discovered. Two main contenders for the name are 'submoon' and 'moonmoon.' We think 'moonmoon' has a cooler vibe, so we'll stick with that from now on.
Researchers believe we are more likely to find a moonmoon outside our solar system, as such an object seems too complicated from a physics perspective to exist here. If we ever hope to find one within our solar system, we'd need to look past Neptune. Perhaps if we ever find the elusive 'Planet Nine' (which is discussed below), we might uncover our first moonmoon.
The existence of these objects is unlikely due to their complexity. First, a larger celestial body, potentially another planet, must propel the moonmoon toward its parent moon. The moonmoon needs to be small enough to be captured by the moon’s gravity. It must also be close to the moon, but not so close that it would collide with it.
Once captured, the moonmoon would remain trapped between the gravitational forces of its moon, the planet its moon orbits, and the Sun. This would likely lead to disastrous outcomes. This is why every satellite we’ve sent to orbit the Moon eventually crashes into it after a few years. However, a moonmoon could exist far beyond Neptune, where the Sun’s gravitational influence is significantly weaker.
8. A Comet Without a Tail
A comet is typically recognized by its long, black tail. But what about one without a tail? Scientists have already discovered such an object, though they’re unsure whether it’s a comet, an asteroid, or something in between. This object, known as the Manx comet (astronomical designation: C/2014 S3), and which we’ll refer to as a comet from here on, is rocky and coated in ice.
Just to clarify, asteroids are made of rock, while comets are composed of ice. The Manx comet doesn’t fit neatly into either category—it's not considered a comet due to its rocky composition, and it’s not an asteroid because it’s covered in ice. The reason it lacks a tail is that the ice on it isn’t abundant enough to form one.
Scientists believe the Manx comet hails from the Oort cloud, home to some of the most distant comets in our solar system. However, some theorists think that the Manx comet might actually be an asteroid that somehow found its way into the cold outer edges of the solar system. If this theory proves true, the Manx comet would become the first icy asteroid. If not, it will remain classified as a rocky comet.
7. A Gigantic Planet In Our Solar System
Scientists have speculated about the presence of a ninth planet in our solar system. Since 2006, Pluto has been reclassified as a dwarf planet, no longer part of the main planetary count. This hypothetical ninth planet could have a mass 10 times that of Earth. Researchers believe its orbit lies about twenty times farther from the Sun than Neptune.
Researchers inferred the size, existence, and distance of this potential planet after observing that a massive object was exerting gravitational influence, disturbing the orbits of small solar system bodies and dwarf planets in the Kuiper Belt, which lies just beyond Neptune. However, if the ninth planet doesn’t exist, scientists speculate that multiple unknown bodies in the Kuiper Belt might be responsible for these disruptions.
6. White Holes
We are familiar with black holes, but what about white holes, the theoretical opposite of black holes?
A black hole is an enormous region of space that draws in nearby matter, even light, which is trapped inside. A white hole, in contrast, expels matter and prevents anything from entering.
Like black holes, white holes have the ability to attract objects around them, but unlike black holes, they do not allow anything to enter. Anything that ventures too close will be obliterated by the immense energy surrounding the white hole. If somehow the object survives, it will continue to move closer, with time slowing down. The closer it gets, the more time will slow down—forever.
Although white holes have not yet been observed, scientists are confident that they exist. The theory of general relativity also implies their existence, suggesting that if black holes exist, white holes should too.
Some scientists theorize that white holes could be the reverse of black holes, where black holes draw in matter, and white holes push it out. Others propose that white holes might form when black holes reach the end of their life cycle.
5. Vulcanoids
Vulcanoids are theoretical, small, incredibly hot asteroids that exist between Mercury and the Sun. Scientists theorize their existence because the region between Mercury and the Sun is stable, a characteristic that often hosts numerous asteroids, similar to the asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter or the Kuiper Belt past Neptune.
Researchers speculate that vulcanoids may have once collided with Mercury, contributing to the many craters we observe on the planet today. However, despite extensive searches, no vulcanoids have been found yet.
They are difficult to locate using telescopes due to the intense sunlight, which can damage the equipment. However, scientists attempt to spot them during eclipses, at dawn, or during dusk, and some have even utilized telescopes mounted on high-altitude aircraft to improve their chances of discovery.
4. A Spinning Mass Of Hot Rock And Dust
Some scientists suggest that planets and their moons may have originated from spinning, extremely hot masses of rock and dust known as synestias. Researchers believe that our Earth and Moon came into being after a collision between the early Earth and a Mars-sized body called Theia. After the impact, the superheated mass of rock eventually cooled and separated into the Earth and the Moon.
Synestias are thought to form when two large planetary bodies or space objects collide. If they truly exist, astronomers will need to constantly scan for them, as synestias typically cool and solidify into planets and moons within 100 years, which is a brief period in the vastness of space.
3. Planets Without A Core
A common feature among most planets is the presence of a solid or molten iron core. However, some planets are believed to lack this core. Scientists propose that these planets form in remote, icy regions of the universe, where the sunlight is too faint to vaporize the liquid and ice on their surfaces.
In these cold conditions, the iron that would normally sink to the planet’s center to form the core reacts with the excess water, creating iron oxide instead. While detecting the presence of a core on planets outside our solar system is challenging, scientists can estimate it by examining the iron-silicate ratio in both the planet and the star it orbits. Planets without a core will lack magnetic fields and remain exposed to cosmic rays.
2. Planet Where It Rains Glass
The rain on this planet isn't just glass—it's molten, hot glass. So, don't think about moving there to start a glass factory. Scientists have identified a planet called HD 189733b, located 63 light-years away, which appears blue like Earth. At first, this might suggest it's full of water. However, the blue hue is actually caused by clouds made of silicates.
While researchers don't have direct evidence, they believe that HD 189733b experiences hot glass rain because glass is composed of silica, or silicon dioxide. The situation is made even more hazardous by powerful winds reaching speeds of 8,700 kilometers per hour (5,400 mph)—seven times the speed of sound.
Now, let's consider what would happen to a human or alien who travels to HD 189733b to set up a glass manufacturing business. During a fierce storm, they would be tossed around by the supersonic winds while being pelted by molten glass. The glass would rain sideways, following the direction of the hypersonic wind.
Sideways molten glass rain? No, thank you.
1. Gas Giants That Become Terrestrial Planets
Terrestrial planets are composed of solid rock or metals, possessing a surface that allows us to land on them. Mercury, Venus, Earth, and Mars are all examples of terrestrial planets. On the other hand, gas giants are primarily made of gas, with no solid surface to land on, making it highly improbable that we could ever set foot on them. Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune are gas giants.
Scientists propose that some gas giants may eventually evolve into terrestrial planets. Though there’s no direct evidence of such celestial bodies, researchers have already coined a term for them: Chthonian planets. This transformation would occur if a gas giant ventures too close to the Sun, causing its atmosphere to evaporate, leaving only its rocky core.
What would replace the gas on the planet? Land?
Scientists are still uncertain. However, they have discovered a planet, Corot 7b, which they believe could be a Chthonian planet. Corot 7b is entirely covered in molten lava and experiences extreme temperatures of 2,500 degrees Celsius (4,500 °F)—making it a highly inhospitable location.
