For years, astronomers have been on the quest for a rocky planet beyond our solar system with an atmosphere that could potentially bear life. After much anticipation, it seems like they have finally found it.
However, this newly discovered planet, known as “55 Cancri e,” is a super-Earth with a surface resembling molten rock, making it highly unlikely to be habitable.
Research revealed that the planet is larger than Earth but smaller than Neptune, orbiting very close to a star that completes an orbit approximately every 18 hours. Infrared observations using the James Webb Space Telescope indicated the presence of an inhospitable atmosphere, likely replenished by gases from massive magma oceans.
Although the exact composition and thickness of the atmosphere remain uncertain, scientists believe it may contain carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, water vapor, and sulfur dioxide. This information was shared by Renyu Hu, a planetary scientist at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory and lead author of the study recently published in Nature.
55 Cancri e has an extreme temperature of around 3,140 degrees Fahrenheit, making it one of the hottest known rocky exoplanets. The planet is probably tidally locked, facing the same side towards its star, and is situated in the constellation Cancer, approximately 41 light-years away from Earth.
Despite being located in a binary star system with a red dwarf companion, 55 Cancri e defies expectations by still having an atmosphere. While it may not support life due to its scorching conditions and lack of liquid water, the discovery of an atmosphere on such a planet marks a significant advancement in exoplanet exploration.
The findings from 55 Cancri e offer hope for Webb’s future investigations on cooler planets potentially hosting liquid water. As we continue to explore the vast exoplanet universe, the role of atmospheres in sustaining life remains a key aspect to uncover.
“On Earth, the atmosphere is key to life,” asserts Brice-Olivier Demoly. “This result for 55 Cancri e raises hopes that Webb will be able to conduct similar investigations of planets that are much cooler and may have liquid water on their surfaces. But we’re not there yet.”
Source: www.nbcnews.com
