An international group of astronomers has made a historic discovery by detecting for the first time an atmosphere on a rocky planet that resides in the habitable zone of its star. This advancement represents a significant step in the search for conditions that could harbor life outside our solar system.
First discovery of an atmosphere on a rocky planet similar to Earth
The exoplanet in question is LHS 1140 b, located approximately 48 light-years from Earth. This discovery marks the beginning of a new era in space exploration, allowing scientists to search for signs of life on other worlds.
Using the infrared spectrograph WINERED on the Magellan Clay telescope at the Las Campanas Observatory in Chile, researchers detected the presence of helium escaping from the atmosphere of the planet during a stellar transit, an event expected to be observed in 2024.
The magazine Space.com highlighted that this observation provides the first direct evidence of an atmosphere on a planet with Earth-like characteristics, ending years of searching on less favorable planets.
Originally discovered in 2017, LHS 1140 b is considered a “super-Earth”. This planet has a mass 5.6 times greater than that of our planet and a radius that is 70% larger. It orbits around a cool red dwarf called LHS 1140, completing its orbit every 24.7 days, placing it within a temperature range that allows for the presence of liquid water.
Scientists have determined that for a planet to be habitable, it needs three essential elements: a rocky structure, a temperature that supports liquid water, and a protective atmosphere that filters radiation and retains water on its surface, as explained by researcher Cherubim.
This discovery not only expands our understanding of planets outside our solar system but also offers new clues about how atmospheres could form and evolve on worlds similar to ours.
