‘Super-Earth’ planet shows signs it could have an atmosphere
Scientists have identified potential signs of an atmosphere on LHS 1140b, a rocky 'super-Earth' located in the habitable zone of a star 49 light-years away. While further observation is needed, this discovery could mark the first time an atmosphere has been detected on a rocky planet capable of supporting liquid water.
Why it matters
Confirming an atmosphere on a rocky, habitable-zone planet is a major milestone in the search for extraterrestrial life and understanding planetary formation.
Scientists say they have detected promising signs that a planet orbiting a star 49 light-years from Earth could have an atmosphere, making it potentially suitable for life. Called LHS 1140b, the object is about five times the mass of our planet, or a “super-Earth.” This planet orbits around its star in the “Goldilocks zone,” also known as the habitable zone, meaning its surface temperature is not too hot or too cold for liquid water to exist. Related video above | ISS astronaut captures stunning time-lapse of southern aurora “We believe it is also predominantly a rocky planet, based on its mass and its radius measurements, which gives us a density estimate,” said Collin Cherubim, a planetary scientist and lead author of a paper on the finding, published July 16 in the journal Science.
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