Scientists discover the first confirmed atmosphere around rocky planet outside our solar system that is within the habitable zone
"The search for life outside our solar system has taken another twist as researchers revealed they have discovered an atmosphere around an Earth-like planet 49 light years away that could have liquid water on its surface.
Atmospheres have previously been found around gas giant exoplanets as well as “sub-Neptunes”. There have also been signs of such envelopes around rocky exoplanets that sit outside their star’s habitable zone – a region in which liquid water could exist on the planet’s surface, and hence potentially support life.
But the new discovery is different.
“This is the first actually observationally confirmed atmosphere on a rocky planet in the habitable zone outside of our solar system,” said Dr Collin Cherubim, the first author of the study, who until recently was based at Harvard University.
The findings, he added, also marked the first direct identification of an atmospheric species for any rocky exoplanet, whether in a habitable zone or not.
“This is a really exciting discovery because I think it really puts LHS 1140b at the forefront as the best, most promising, exciting laboratory for studying astrobiology and habitability outside of our solar system,” he said.
The planet, LHS 1140b, has a mass 5.6 times that of Earth and its radius is 70% larger. While Cherubim noted it was similar to Earth in some ways – such as its overall composition and temperature – it differs in others: for example it is tidally locked, could have far more water, and probably has a very different atmosphere."
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