Scientists have discovered a thick atmosphere surrounding a super Earth planet located in a nearby solar system. Known as 55 Cancri e, this planet is twice the size of Earth and has a significant atmosphere composed of carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide. While the exact composition of the atmosphere remains unclear, Earth’s atmosphere is made up of nitrogen, oxygen, argon, and other gases.
This discovery is strong evidence supporting the existence of an atmosphere on this planet, according to Ian Crossfield, an astronomer at the University of Kansas who studies exoplanets. The research was published in the journal Nature. Super Earth planets are larger than Earth but smaller than Neptune. 55 Cancri e has boiling temperatures reaching as high as 4,200 degrees Fahrenheit, making it unlikely to host life. However, scientists believe this discovery is a promising indication that other rocky planets with thick atmospheres may exist and could potentially be more habitable.
The planet is located 41 light years away and much heavier than Earth, with permanent day and night sides due to its close orbit around its star. Researchers used the Webb Space Telescope to study the planet’s atmosphere, observing changes in temperature as it passed behind its star. Evidence suggests that the planet’s heat is distributed more evenly across its surface, a characteristic typical of atmospheres. It is believed that gases from the planet’s magma oceans play a role in maintaining its atmosphere. Scientists hope that studying this super Earth will provide insights into the early evolution of planets like Earth and Mars which may have initially had magma oceans that have since cooled. Renyu Hu, a planetary scientist at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory involved in the research views this as a unique opportunity to explore the early phases of planet evolution.