Astronomers Discover Atmosphere on Potentially Habitable Exoplanet A team of astronomers has made a groundbreaking discovery by identifying an atmosphere on LHS 1140b, a rocky exoplanet located approximately 30 to 40 light-years from Earth. This finding marks the first time a potentially habitable world has been confirmed to possess an atmosphere, offering new hope in the search for extraterrestrial life. The planet, which orbits a star within the habitable zone—a region where liquid water could theoretically exist on its surface—was first detected in 2017. Now, new data suggests it has a helium-rich atmosphere, a critical factor in determining its potential to support life. LHS 1140b is classified as a super-Earth, meaning it is larger and more massive than Earth but still rocky. Its location in the habitable zone, combined with its size, makes it a compelling candidate for further study. The planet’s temperature is cooler than Earth’s, which could allow for the presence of liquid water, a key ingredient for life as humans understand it. However, its larger size and greater mass raise questions about its atmospheric retention capabilities. The recent detection of an atmosphere challenges previous assumptions that smaller rocky planets might struggle to maintain such conditions. The discovery was published in the journal Science and represents a significant milestone in exoplanet research. Scientists have long theorized that rocky worlds could possess atmospheres, but direct evidence has been scarce. This study provides the first clear confirmation of an atmosphere on a potentially habitable exoplanet, reinforcing the idea that Earth-like planets may be more common in the universe than previously thought. Collin Cherubim, a planetary scientist and recent Harvard Ph.D.#harvard #mit #science_journal #lhs_1140b #collin_cherubim
Earth-like Exoplanet LHS 1140b Confirmed to Have Atmosphere in Habitable Zone Scientists have confirmed the presence of an atmosphere around LHS 1140b, an Earth-like exoplanet located 49 light-years away in the constellation Cetus. This discovery marks the first time a rocky planet in the habitable zone of a star outside our solar system has been observed to possess an atmosphere, offering new insights into the potential for life beyond Earth. The findings, published in the journal Science, were made using data from the Magellan Clay telescope in Chile, where researchers analyzed the planet’s behavior as it passed in front of its host star. LHS 1140b, which orbits a small red dwarf star, has a mass 5.6 times that of Earth and a radius 70% larger. While it shares similarities with Earth in terms of composition and temperature, the planet is tidally locked, meaning one side perpetually faces its star, and it may possess significantly more water than our planet. The star, smaller and dimmer than the Sun, emits a higher proportion of ionizing radiation, which could pose challenges for sustaining life. However, the new study suggests the planet has the necessary conditions for a habitable environment: a rocky surface, a temperature range that could support liquid water, and an atmosphere that protects against harmful radiation. The atmosphere was detected through observations of helium escaping from the planet’s upper atmosphere into space. Data collected in 2024 revealed this helium signal, which the research team ruled out as contamination from Earth’s atmosphere. However, follow-up observations in 2025 showed no helium, prompting reanalysis of the initial findings. Dr.#dr_collin_cherubim #lhs_1140b #lhs_1140 #magellan_clay_telescope #dr_jayne_birkby
