Lava Oceans of Exoplanets ⚡ экспресс
Imagine a planet so close to its star that its dayside is an ocean of molten rock. But the star’s tidal forces slosh this ocean from within, creating giant lava waves. As these waves collide, they make the planet flicker unpredictably, like a candle flame in the wind.
A planet whose orbit is a little stretched dives closer to its star each pass, then backs away. The varying gravity heats it up, solid rocks melt, becoming an ocean of lava.
On the night side, a frozen crust acts as a shore. Tidal waves crash against it, collide, and spawn wandering hot spots. As a result, the planet’s glow flickers erratically, like a candle flame. Waves can rise several kilometers high—slow-moving stone ridges crawling across the scorching expanse.
🎯 The temperature of these lava oceans is higher than in a smelting furnace: around 3000°C.
🎬 Lava worlds like Mustafar from Star Wars turn out even more turbulent than in fiction, thanks to tides.