Newly discovered planet made out of diamonds.

[GabrielWithoutWings]

The nursery song "twinkle twinkle, little star" might have a whole new meaning now that astronomers have found a planet they believe to be made almost entirely of diamonds.

Scientists say the planet exists about 4,000 light years away from Earth, and is probably the remnants of a once-large dead star, Reuters reports.

Source

PLEASE don't tell my wife. :cover:

 

[Breathe]

That is pretty awesome!

 

[Valjean]

I don't understand this "amazing density" the article cites. None of carbon's allotropes have anywhere near the density of Iron, and certainly not nickle. The planet would be less dense than our own.

 

[angellous_evangellous]

Sounds like something that the History Channel would make up.

 

[Panda]

It isn't actually diamond. It is likely a oxygen and carbon lattice structure similar to diamond.

 

[Father Heathen]

It isn't actually diamond. It is likely a oxygen and carbon lattice structure similar to diamond.

News media nowadays are more about attention grabbing than they are about accuracy.

 

[Valjean]

But a carbon-oxygen lattice would be some kind of carbonyl compound, nothing like diamond. There's no oxygen in diamond.

 

[rsd]

When I saw this a couple of days ago I thought, "If there is a planet made of diamond, then then there can be an ocean of milk.

 

[Valjean]

Fed by massive herds of lactating cows?

 

[Panda]

But a carbon-oxygen lattice would be some kind of carbonyl compound, nothing like diamond. There's no oxygen in diamond.

Only if it is all mixed up. The impression I get is that large parts will be some sort of crystalline carbon structure, they think this because of it's density.

Also answer your question about iron being denser than carbon. Think about a diamond and a piece of graphite, because of the way they are bonded together they have a totally different density. If you have carbon that has been crushed under high pressure due to gravity and tidal forces can easily become more dense than your average lump of iron.

This shows some different ways carbon can bond, each of these has different densities with some being almost twice that of otheres

 

[Valjean]

But diamond and graphite are both specific crystal structures. I don't see how you could crush it or pack it any more densely without destroying the lattice, rendering it some sort of amorphous allotrope.
Or are you thinking it might be some sort of fullerite? That would certainly be interesting, but still not diamond.

OK, I googled the densities in question. Diamond and graphite crystals are 3,515 and 2.267, respectively, and the amorphous allotrope less than that.
Iron is 7.874 and Nickle 8.912 -- way denser than any known carbon configuration.

Maybe the "amazing density" that tipped off the scientists was the amazingly light density, when compared to a metal planet like our own.
Not the impression the article gave, though. I think sensationalism trumped scientific clarity. :yes:

 

[Revoltingest]

With so much carbon, a planet made entirely out of bacon would be possible.

 

[Valjean]

With oceans of grease....

 

[Panda]

But diamond and graphite are both specific crystal structures. I don't see how you could crush it or pack it any more densely without destroying the lattice, rendering it some sort of amorphous allotrope.
Or are you thinking it might be some sort of fullerite? That would certainly be interesting, but still not diamond.

OK, I googled the densities in question. Diamond and graphite crystals are 3,515 and 2.267, respectively, and the amorphous allotrope less than that.
Iron is 7.874 and Nickle 8.912 -- way denser than any known carbon configuration.

Maybe the "amazing density" that tipped off the scientists was the amazingly light density, when compared to a metal planet like our own.
Not the impression the article gave, though. I think sensationalism trumped scientific clarity. :yes:

The planet isn't diamond though it is just called that. Carbon Planet

Listen to this video here

I realised I was being an idiot. It is 20 times as dense as the gas giant Jupiter, not Earth.

 

[Father Heathen]

When I saw this a couple of days ago I thought, "If there is a planet made of diamond, then then there can be an ocean of milk.

 

[Revoltingest]

With oceans of grease....

Mmmm....& forests of collard greens, lettuce, tomatoes.....