James Webb has once again peered into the atmosphere of an exoplanet, and this time it has identified indications that the planet could be covered in ocean.
The James Webb Space Telescope has once again peered into the atmosphere of an exoplanet, and this time it has identified indications that the planet could be covered in oceans. The planet K2-18 b is just 120 light-years away from Earth in the constellation of Leo and is a type of planet called a sub-Neptune which is unlike any planet in our solar system.
The researchers used Webb’s NIRSpec instrument, which can break down light into different wavelengths to see which ones have been absorbed by the target. As different compounds absorb different wavelengths of light, by looking at the missing wavelengths scientists can tell what an object is likely composed of. In this case, the planet showed indications of methane and carbon dioxide, and is thought to have a hydrogen-rich atmosphere with water oceans covering its surface.
Recommended Videos “Our findings underscore the importance of considering diverse habitable environments in the search for life elsewhere,” said lead author of the research, Nikku Madhusudhan of the University of Cambridge, in a statement. “Traditionally, the search for life on exoplanets has focused primarily on smaller rocky planets, but the larger Hycean worlds are significantly more conducive to atmospheric observations.
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James Webb Space Telescope deepens major debate over universe's expansion rateMonisha Ravisetti is Space.com's Astronomy Editor. She covers black holes, star explosions, gravitational waves, exoplanet discoveries and other enigmas hidden across the fabric of space and time. Previously, she was a science writer at CNET, and before that, reported for The Academic Times. Prior to becoming a writer, she was an immunology researcher at Weill Cornell Medical Center in New York. She graduated from New York University in 2018 with a B.A. in philosophy, physics and chemistry. She spends too much time playing online chess. Her favorite planet is Earth.
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