Researchers have detected a thick atmosphere around a super-Earth planet called 55 Cancri e, which is twice the size of Earth. This planet is among the few rocky planets outside our solar system with a significant atmosphere made up of carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide. While Earth’s atmosphere consists of nitrogen, oxygen, argon, and other gases, the exact composition of the atmosphere of 55 Cancri e is unclear. The discovery of this atmosphere provides firm evidence that the planet has an atmosphere, according to Ian Crossfield, an astronomer at the University of Kansas.
Published in the journal Nature, the research on 55 Cancri e reveals that its boiling temperatures can reach as high as 4,200 degrees Fahrenheit, making it unlikely to host life. However, scientists see this discovery as a promising sign that other rocky planets with thick atmospheres may exist and could potentially be more hospitable. The research team used the Webb Space Telescope to observe the planet before and after it passed behind its star to identify the makeup of its atmosphere. By analyzing the light emitted from the planet versus its star, they were able to calculate the planet’s temperature and observe evidence of the planet’s heat being distributed more evenly across its surface.
The 41 light-year distant exoplanet that is eight times heavier than Earth also exhibits unique characteristics, with permanent day and night sides due to its close proximity to its host star, Copernicus. Its surface is covered in magma oceans, and studying this super-Earth could provide valuable insights into how Earth and Mars might have evolved with magma oceans that have since cooled. These findings could shed light on early planet evolution processes. Scientists suggest that gases from the magma oceans play a crucial role in maintaining the stability of the planet’s atmosphere. This super-Earth presents an opportunity to explore the early phases of planet evolution.
55 Cancri e is not the only super-Earth planet that researchers have identified in recent years. In 2022, an international team reported the discovery of two super-Earth planets just 100 light-years from Earth that orbit a red dwarf star, with one potentially being habitable. Another super-Earth, known as TOI-1452 b, was discovered by NASA and is believed to be a “water world,” raising the possibility of it supporting life. The James Webb Space Telescope will be used to further study this planet and confirm the presence of water. Researchers are eager to explore these distinct super-Earths and unravel the mysteries of their atmospheres and potential habitability, providing valuable insights into planetary evolution beyond our solar system.
