Magma oceans Archives - Astrobiology

Modelled planetary bulk-density over time. The initial hydrogen inventory of each bulk-density evolution track is shown by the line colour. Blue/green shaded regions are reference densities for a planet of this mass (Zeng et al., 2019). Black dashed/dotted lines demarcate edges of the radius valley (at this planet mass) for low mass stars (Ho et al., 2024). The region ±1σ compatible with the estimated bulk-density of this planet is indicated by the blue errorbar (Rajpaul et al., 2024; Demangeon et al., 2021). Top panel: evolution of surface temperature (coloured) and stellar XUV energy flux (black). For visual clarity, this figure only shows cases with S/H=8. -- astro-ph.EP

Exoplanets, -moons, -comets, Status Report

Volatile-rich Evolution Of Molten Super-Earth L 98-59 d

by Keith CowingJuly 7, 2025September 18, 2025

Small low-density exoplanets are sculpted by strong stellar irradiation but their origin is unknown.

redox

Astrogeology, Atmospheres, Climate, Weather, Biogeochemical Cycles & Geobiology, Caves, Craters, Mountains, Subsurface, Lava Tubes, Exoplanets, -moons, -comets, Status Report

Redox Evolution Of The Crystallizing Terrestrial Magma Ocean And Its Influence On Atmosphere Outgassing

by Keith CowingJanuary 19, 2023January 19, 2023

Magma oceans are episodes of large-scale melting of the mantle of terrestrial planets.