What's proxima centauri's secret? Why does the surface of the planet become scorched earth? With these two questions, we will start a new round of technical unlocking journey, and provide the best answers we can for everyone who is curious.
The relationship between people is from near to far, which is more in line with the order of our exploration of the planet. Proxima centauri broke into scientists' field of vision precisely because it is not only a star, but also keeps a close distance from the earth.
The evolution of the earth has provided shelter for the changes of human civilization. However, most of us don't know much about the world outside the earth. Naturally, you can't eat a big fat man in one bite, and you won't digest it if you eat too much. Our research might as well start with the observation and understanding of proxima centauri.
Most importantly, we need to find out whether there are any signs of life on the proxima centauri. As a main star, proxima centauri is surrounded by three other planets. In order to facilitate identification and detection, scientists gave them three names, namely Proxima B, proxima centauri C and proxima centauri D. ..
Further analysis, when we measured the distances between these three planets and proxima centauri, we found a new discovery: proxima centauri C is too far away from the main star, and the main star has no control over proxima centauri C. Conversely, proxima centauri has no anti-control over the main star.
The distance between proxima centauri Centauri D and the main star is too close, and the so-called "fuzzy" and "chaotic" states are easily formed due to the pull of their relationship. These two absolutely extreme environmental conditions, instead of helping the survival and continuation of life, further inhibit the space for shaping.
The remaining neighboring star B can arouse the research interest of scientists to some extent. Structurally, it belongs to the category of rocky planet. Its outline shape is larger than that of the earth, its mass is 1. 17 times larger than that of the earth, and its diameter is 1.07 times wider than that of the earth. It is located in an impartial position not far from the main star.
This sends an important signal. It is entirely possible for liquid water to appear on the surface of neighboring star B, which is a rare source of life.
However, we must not be too happy, because any planet with a good ecological environment cannot be naturally produced. The demonic side of proxima centauri is something that we urgently need to study and guard against.
Proxima centauri and the sun are two different temperaments. Proxima centauri is a member of the Red Dwarf team. Stop looking. Its mass is only 65,438+02% and its diameter is only 65,438+05% of the sun. Once there is a flare on its surface, even the threatening sun will call itself the younger brother.
Scientists discovered something bad about proxima centauri in March, 20 16. In a little more than 10 second, its brightness almost increased by 1000 times. This kind of high-intensity flare is really rare. In May of 20 19, another super flare appeared. Proxima centauri, with its small size and great energy, has to raise eyebrows.
In order to accurately observe this super flare, scientists used 18 kinds of martial arts, and Hubble Space Telescope and Ling Xinghe Exoplanet Survey Telescope were the first batch. After nearly 40 hours of continuous observation and recording, they finally gave it its due historical title.
What we can't imagine is that in less than 7 seconds, proxima centauri automatically turned on the brightness to1.4000 times, which is 1.000 times the highest recorded solar flare.
Calculate the average distance, and the neighboring star B is separated from the main star by 0.05 astronomical unit; Mercury is separated from the main star sun by 0.3 astronomical units. Even so, on the opposite side of Mercury from the sun, the average temperature can generally be greater than or equal to 400 degrees Celsius and less than or equal to 520 degrees Celsius.
The reason why proxima b broke out this super flare was almost to reduce the distance between mercury and the sun to 1, and then forced mercury to directly face the solar flare of 100 times, so proxima b became scorched earth with the sudden increase of surface temperature. This dangerous account is all because of the flare.
The formation of flare is a process of energy accumulation. The appearance of flare on the star means that some magnetic fields need to find channels to release magnetic force, but the magnetic force is often affected by the direction of the object's movement, which destroys the extension of magnetic lines in repeated twisting and stretching, and its energy burst is a matter of time.
Whether the state of matter is stable is directly proportional to the form of magnetic force. When the state of matter is extremely unstable, the magnetic field becomes more and more chaotic, and the stored energy will increase exponentially, even hundreds or even tens of thousands of times. As long as the magnetic field lines collapse at the first time, the so-called flare is the result of the peak energy release.
Fortunately, the sun is shielded by the radiation layer, which blocks all material exchange and convection, of course, thanks to its own quality. Because of its small mass, proxima centauri has no contact with the radiation layer, and the more frequent contact with the outside world, instability and flare will become commonplace.
Many times, human beings always want to conquer nature. As we all know, in many unknown areas of space, the battle-hardened human beings not only hold infinite longings and daydreams, but also deeply feel their own smallness and limitations. Scientific observation of proxima centauri has greatly expanded people's cognition. At least so far, the earth is the only livable place for human beings.