00:03Exoplanets are usually discovered when they pass in front of their host star.
00:06This causes a dip in the star's light and indicates the presence of a planet.
00:10However, a new study suggests that under the right conditions,
00:13tidal forces might cause a planet to warm enough for it to radiate heat.
00:17The current observations of such a phenomenon are being studied in exoplanetary system HD104067.
00:24Tidal forces are the gravitational interactions between massive cosmic objects,
00:28like between stars, moons and planets. Within star system HD104067,
00:33an inter-orbiting planet is believed to be circling its host star once every 55 days.
00:38However, at least two other giant planets in the system are pulling it outward,
00:42causing what experts are calling the perfect tidal storm.
00:45This could be raising the temperature of the yet-to-be-confirmed planet as high as 4200 degrees
00:50Fahrenheit. That's enough heat to cause the planet to glow and likely cause significant volcanic
00:54activity, similar to Jupiter's tidally affected moon Io, the most volcanically active place in our
01:00solar system. With one of the researchers and professor of planetary astrophysics, Dr. Stephen
01:06Cain telling Universe Today, quote, This system is a great example of extreme environments the planets
01:11can find themselves in. There have been several cases of terrestrial planets that are close to their
01:16star and heated by the energy from the star, but very few cases where the tidal energy is melting the
01:21planet from within.
