Scientists have discovered a thick atmosphere surrounding the exoplanet 55 Cancri e, which is classified as a ‘super Earth’ due to its size being larger than Earth but smaller than Neptune. This exoplanet, located in a nearby solar system 41 light-years away, stands out among the few rocky planets beyond our own solar system known to possess a significant atmosphere. The atmosphere primarily consists of carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide, with its exact composition yet to be fully determined.
55 Cancri e orbits its star, Copernicus, so closely that it experiences permanent day and night sides. Its surface is covered in vast magma oceans. Researchers utilized observations from the Webb Space Telescope to analyze the composition of the exoplanet’s atmosphere. They observed the light emitted by the planet and its star separately and employed the data to calculate the planet’s temperature.
The researchers found evidence that the planet’s heat is evenly distributed across its surface, a characteristic commonly associated with the presence of an atmosphere. Gases emanating from the magma oceans on 55 Cancri e are believed to play a crucial role in maintaining the stability of its atmosphere.
The discovery of an atmosphere around 55 Cancri e holds significance for understanding the evolution of Earth and Mars. It provides a unique opportunity to study the potential pathways for the development of life on other rocky exoplanets with thick atmospheres.
