Scientists have discovered a rare planet that can be completely covered by the ocean

A team of astronomers from the Chalmers University of Technology (Sweden) have studied a rare exoplanet that is twice the size of Earth and can be completely covered by the ocean. Their study published in the journal Astronomy & Astrophysics.

It's about the planet TOI-733b. It is 245 light-years away and orbits a star that is only slightly smaller than the Sun.

The study is based on recent data from the TESS space telescope, thanks to which scientists were able to study the density of the object. As a result, they put forward two theories: either the planet is completely covered with water, or it has lost its atmosphere.

Several factors indicate that TOI-733b's atmosphere is slowly depleting. This may be due to its proximity to its star, which it orbits in just 4.9 days. If the atmosphere really burns up, then it will soon turn into a rocky planet, the researchers say.

It is also possible that due to increased radiation from proximity to its star, the planet lost hydrogen and helium, but still retained an atmosphere saturated with water vapor.

In other words, there is no exact answer about the atmosphere of this mysterious planet yet. But whatever it is, there is every reason to believe that TOI-733b is the key to understanding planetary formations in the Universe, scientists say.