NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) has helped determine the atmospheric composition of an exoplanet. The telescope’s observations revealed the presence of methane and carbon dioxide in the atmosphere of K2-18 b. K2-18 b is an exoplanet that’s 8.6 times more massive than Earth. It orbits the cool dwarf star K2-18.
The presence of these carbon-bearing molecules could indicate that K2-18 b has a hydrogen-rich atmosphere and a water ocean-covered surface. These features could potentially be signs of a planet that could bear life.
The JWST’s discovery promises a better understanding of atmospheric composition in cooler planets
The James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) has also discovered other planets and objects:
- LHS 475 b A rocky planet that’s about the same size as Earth and is 41 light years away
- Jupiter A high-speed jet stream that’s over 3,000 miles wide and sits above Jupiter’s equator
- Planet-like objects in Orion Jupiter-sized objects that are free-floating in space and appear to be moving in pairs
K2-18 b is an exoplanet that orbits the red dwarf star K2-18. It’s located 124 light-years away from Earth
K2-18 b is a super-Earth, which means it has a mass between Earth and Neptune. It’s 8.6 times more massive than Earth and 2.6 times larger. It’s also classified as a mini-Neptune.
K2-18 b was discovered in 2015 by NASA’s Kepler space telescope. It takes 32.9 days to orbit its star.
Here’s some information about K2-18 b:
- Mass: 8.92 Earths
- Size: 2.6 times larger than Earth
- Distance from star: 0.1429 AU
- Atmosphere: 0.01% to 50% water vapor
- Composition: Carbon-bearing molecules, including methane and carbon dioxide
NASA says that K2-18 b’s size likely means it has a large mantle of high-pressure ice, a thinner hydrogen-rich atmosphere, and an ocean surface
K2-18 b is located in the constellation Leo in the “habitable zone” of its star. This means that liquid water could potentially pool on the surface of a rocky planet. K2-18 b has an ocean and atmosphere that could support life. The presence of rain, oceans, and certain gases on K2-18 b suggests the possibility of life.
The James Webb Space Telescope has detected methane and carbon dioxide in the atmosphere of K2-18 b. These features could potentially be signs of a planet that could bear life.
K2-18 b may belong to a unique class of exoplanets known as “Hycean” planets. Hycean planets have hydrogen-rich atmospheres and potentially water-covered surfaces, making them candidates for life.
However, K2-18 b lacks oxygen, so humans cannot live there. Life on K2-18b may have developed differently than on Earth.
K2-18 b may have water. NASA researchers say that the planet’s abundance of methane and carbon dioxide, and lack of ammonia, suggest that it may have a water ocean beneath a hydrogen-rich atmosphere.
The Hubble Space Telescope has detected water vapor in K2-18 b’s atmosphere. The James Webb Space Telescope has also detected a molecule called dimethyl sulfide (DMS) on K2-18 b. On Earth, DMS is only produced by life.
K2-18 b is exciting to scientists because it could be a Hycean exoplanet. Hycean planets are thought to be promising environments for finding evidence of life. K2-18 b’s atmosphere contains carbon-bearing molecules, including methane and carbon dioxide. It also has a spectroscopic signature of water vapor. Scientists may have detected a substance in K2-18 b’s atmosphere that’s only produced by living things on Earth.
K2-18 b has been used as a test case for exoplanet studies. In 2019, it was the first habitable zone rocky world to have water detected in its atmosphere( all article source google)
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