Carbon planet
- This article is about the theoretical planet type. For the environmental company, see Carbon Planet.
A carbon planet, also referred to as a diamond planet or carbide planet is a theoretical type of terrestrial planet proposed by Marc Kuchner. The planet could form from the dusty protoplanetary discs found around many stars, if they are carbon-rich and oxygen-poor. It would have to develop differently from Earth, Mars and Venus, silicate planets made up mostly of silicon-oxygen compounds.
Current theories predict that such a planet would likely have an iron-rich core similar to the known terrestrial planets. Above that would be a thick layer of silicon carbide and titanium carbide, and a layer of carbon above that. The carbon would be in the form of graphite, possibly with a layer of diamond at the bottom, kilometers thick, if there is sufficient pressure. The surface would be rich in hydrocarbons and carbon monoxide. Life might be possible, especially if water is present, but the highly reducing environment could result in metabolism taking the opposite approach to that of terrestrial life with oxygen-rich compounds being taken in as food to react with the carbon-rich atmosphere.
Planets orbiting the pulsar PSR 1257+12 may be carbon planets, forming from the disruption of a star that produced carbon as it aged. They might also be located near the galactic core, where stars have more carbon than the sun.
See also
External links
- astro-ph 0504214 Marc J. Kuchner, Extrasolar Carbon Planets