Not only do the two mentioned planets strongly resemble the gas giants Jupiter and Saturn in the solar system, but white dwarfs also represent the possible fate of the Sun. Before the sun enters the white dwarf phase, the changes caused by its expansion in the red giant phase lead to the destruction of the inner planets of the solar system. Susan MoulayThe senior research author says:
So far, few planets have been discovered around white dwarf stars. The interesting thing about these candidate planets is that they are very similar to the outer planets of the solar system in terms of temperature, mass, age and orbital separation. In this way, for the first time, we can understand the fate of a planetary system after the death of its star.
Future vision
Planetary candidates were observed by the James Webb Intermediate Infrared Instrument (MIRI) orbiting the white dwarfs WD 1202-232 and WD 2105-82. One of the planets is approximately 11.5 AU from its white dwarf star (one AU is the distance from Earth to the Sun), while the other candidate planet is 34.5 AU from its star.
The masses of the planets are currently unknown and are estimated to be between 1 and 7 times that of Jupiter, the heaviest planet in the Solar System.
New planets could provide a glimpse into the future of the solar system
However, the discovery of new planets shows what will happen to the planets beyond Mars after the death of the sun. In addition, the discovered white dwarfs contain elements heavier than hydrogen and helium or metallic elements. The finding could also provide a glimpse into the future of objects in the asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter after the death of the Sun.
It is possible that gaseous planets contribute to metal contamination by directing comets and asteroids to the surface of stars. The presence of new planets could confirm the link between metal pollution and planets. Since 25 to 50% of white dwarfs show this type of pollution, gas giants are among the common planets around white dwarfs.
