Astronomers have detected the first confirmed atmosphere on a rocky planet located within its star’s habitable zone, a finding centered on the exoplanet LHS 1140 b.
Researchers identified the atmosphere through the detection of helium gradually escaping into space from the planet, a signature that allowed scientists to confirm the presence of an atmospheric layer rather than a bare rocky surface. LHS 1140 b orbits a red dwarf star and has long been considered a promising candidate in the search for potentially habitable worlds beyond the solar system.
The discovery adds to a growing body of research using atmospheric signatures to characterize rocky exoplanets, offering scientists a new data point in assessing which distant worlds might have conditions conducive to further study.
The finding adds LHS 1140 b to a short list of rocky exoplanets where researchers have been able to directly detect atmospheric composition, a technically difficult measurement given the planet’s distance and the faintness of its host star.
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Sources:
https://www.sciencedaily.com/news/top/technology/