World type · Molten world
Lava World
A rocky exoplanet orbiting so close to its star that its day side is hot enough to melt rock, covering it in a global magma ocean. Several known super-Earths, such as 55 Cancri e, are thought to be lava worlds, offering a natural laboratory for molten-rock chemistry.
Worlds, layers & processes
Knowledge connections
- Associated withSuper-Earth
- Associated withVolcanism
- Associated withThermal Inversion
Sources
The primary and reference sources this topic draws on.
- NASANational Aeronautics and Space Administration
Mission data, planetary science, space telescopes, and public-domain imagery.
Most NASA-produced imagery is in the public domain; individual items are checked for usage terms before publication.