'Super-Earth' planet shows signs it could have an atmosphere - KSL.com
Astronomers have identified a 'super-Earth' exoplanet, LHS 1140b, that shows potential signs of having an atmosphere. Located in the habitable zone, the planet is considered a prime candidate for future research into extraterrestrial life.
Why it matters
This discovery represents a significant milestone in the search for habitable worlds beyond our solar system.
ATLANTA — 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."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."It appears to be consistent with Earth, meaning it might have an iron core and a silicate mantle, plus some sort of low-density component, which is probably a combination of…
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