Scientists have discovered an exoplanet, LHS 1140 b, located 48 light-years from Earth, which may have liquid water and an atmosphere. The planet is located in the “Goldilocks zone” and has a mass six times that of the Earth.
Scientists have discovered an exoplanet that may contain liquid water. This distant planet, called LHS 1140, may even have an atmosphere similar to Earth. Ever since humans have looked up at the stars, we have been fascinated by the search for life beyond Earth. But this search may soon come to an end, as scientists have discovered a planet that could be our “best bet” for finding alien life in space. This was reported by mashable, according to UNN.
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Observations have confirmed that the neighboring planet may have an ocean of liquid water and even a nitrogen-rich atmosphere like on Earth.
Lead author Charles Cadieux of the University of Montreal said: “Of all the currently known temperate exoplanets, LHS 1140 b may be our best bet to one day indirectly confirm the presence of liquid water on the surface of an alien world outside our solar system.
Although we don't know exactly what alien life would look like, scientists are almost certain that it would need liquid water to survive. The exoplanet LHS 1140 b is located 48 light years from Earth in the constellation Cygnus. This means that our closest neighboring planet exists in the “Goldilocks zone” of its star, a region where water can exist as a liquid,
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This exoplanet is about six times the mass of the Earth and orbits a small red dwarf star about one-fifth the size of our Sun at a distance cool enough for potential water formation.
Recent analysis has shown that the exoplanet was significantly less massive than an object of its size should be. This left researchers with two options: either LHS 1140 b was a “mini-Neptune” composed mostly of liquefied or frozen gas, or it was a “Mega-Earth” covered in liquid or frozen water.
The exoplanet LHS 1140 b is in the habitable zone of its star, where liquid water may exist. Its high mass also gives it a high enough exit velocity to gather a thick atmosphere, as shown in this planet diagram
To determine what that is, the researchers combined data from JWST and other space telescopes such as Hubble and Spitzer to make the first “spectroscopic” analysis of LHS 1140 b. Because certain molecules block different wavelengths of light, by measuring the frequencies of light passing by the planet, we can learn what chemicals might be present.
Their analysis suggests that LHS 1140 b is most likely a “water world” or “snow globe” with a rocky core, rather than a gaseous mini-Neptune. Even more exciting is that initial analysis suggests that the exoplanet may even have a thick atmosphere like Earth's. This would give it a much greater ability to retain heat from its star and increase the likelihood that it could have a stable climate – all important factors for life to exist,
The scientists added.
Dr. Ryan McDonald, an astronomer at the University of Michigan who worked on the paper, said: “This is the first time we've seen a hint of an atmosphere on a rocky or ice-rich habitable zone exoplanet.
Although they warn that more observations from JWST are needed, the atmosphere may be rich in nitrogen, which makes up 78 percent of the atmosphere on Earth.
Dr. MacDonald adds: “LHS 1140 b is one of the best small exoplanets in the habitable zone that is capable of supporting a thick atmosphere, and we may have just found evidence of air on this world.
Similar to the Moon's orbit around the Earth, LHS 1140 b has a synchronous orbit, meaning that one side is constantly turned away from the star.
Although researchers believe that the exoplanet is most likely a frozen “snowball,” this means that there may be liquid water on the side heated by the star.
Dr. Ryan McDonald, an astronomer at the University of Michigan who worked on the paper, said: “This is the first time we've seen a hint of an atmosphere on a rocky or ice-rich exoplanet in the habitable zone.
Although they warn that more observations from JWST are needed, the atmosphere may be rich in nitrogen, which makes up 78 percent of the atmosphere on Earth.
Dr. MacDonald adds: “LHS 1140 b is one of the best small exoplanets in the habitable zone that is capable of supporting a thick atmosphere, and we may have just found evidence of air on this world.
Similar to the Moon's orbit around the Earth, LHS 1140 b has a synchronous orbit, meaning that one side is constantly turned away from the star.
Although researchers believe that the exoplanet is most likely a frozen “snowball,” this means that there may be liquid water on the side heated by the star.
