The so-called super Earth — known as 55 Cancri e — is among the few rocky planets outside our solar system with a significant atmosphere, wrapped a blanket of carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide. The exact amounts are unclear. Earth's atmosphere is a blend of nitrogen, oxygen, argon and other gases.
"It's probably the firmest evidence yet that this planet has an atmosphere," said Ian Crossfield, an astronomer at the University of Kansas who studies exoplanets and was not involved with the research.
The research was published in the journal Nature.
Super Earth refers to a planet's size — bigger than Earth but smaller than Neptune. The boiling temperatures on this planet — which can reach as hot as 4,200 degrees Fahrenheit – mean that it is unlikely to host life.
Instead, scientists say the discovery is a promising sign that other such rocky planets with thick atmospheres could exist that may be more hospitable.
The Super Earth 41 Light Years Away
The exoplanet located 41 light years away from Earth is a fascinating discovery in the realm of space exploration. This distant planet is eight times heavier than our own planet and orbits its star, Copernicus, so closely that it experiences permanent day and night sides. With a light-year measuring nearly 6 trillion miles (9.7 trillion kilometers), the surface of this exoplanet is covered in magma oceans.
Researchers utilized observations from the Webb Space Telescope to analyze the composition of the planet's atmosphere. By observing the planet as it passed behind its star, scientists were able to separate the emitted light from the planet and its star. This data allowed them to calculate the planet's temperature and revealed intriguing patterns in how heat is distributed across its surface.
The presence of gases from the magma oceans on this super Earth is believed to play a crucial role in maintaining its atmosphere. Studying this exoplanet could provide valuable insights into the early evolution of planets, including Earth and Mars, which may have also had magma oceans in their past that have since cooled.
"It's a rare window into the early phase of planet evolution," remarked Renyu Hu, a planetary scientist at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, who was involved in the research.
Exploring Super Earths
The discovery of the super Earth 55 Cancri e adds to the growing list of such planets that scientists have identified in recent years. In 2022, an international team of researchers announced the detection of two super Earth planets just 100 light-years away from Earth. These planets orbit a red dwarf star, with one of them, LP 890-9c, potentially being habitable.
Studying super Earths like these provides valuable insights into the diversity of planetary systems beyond our solar system. These discoveries open up new possibilities for understanding the conditions that could support life on other worlds and offer a glimpse into the vast and varied universe that surrounds us.
During the month of August in the year 2022, a team of researchers from NASA made a groundbreaking discovery of a super Earth that has the potential to be classified as a "water world," thus increasing its chances of being able to sustain life. The planet in question, named TOI-1452 b, is still under scrutiny as scientists work to determine the extent of water present on its surface. NASA has announced plans to utilize the James Webb Space Telescope for further exploration of this celestial body.
One of the researchers involved in the project, René Doyon, expressed eagerness about the prospect, stating, "As soon as we can, we will secure time on the Webb to conduct observations of this peculiar and fascinating world."
