Distant exoplanet K2-18 b 'could have water ocean and signs of life', scientists say
- NASA's James Webb Space Telescope has detected carbon dioxide and methane in the atmosphere of exoplanet K2-18 b, a potentially habitable world 8.6 times the size of Earth. This groundbreaking discovery has led astronomers to consider the possibility that K2-18 b may belong to a unique class of exoplanets known as "Hycean" planets.
- K2-18 b orbits a cool dwarf star called K2-18 within the Leo constellation and sits within the habitable zone. The exoplanet's hydrogen-rich atmosphere, coupled with the abundance of methane and carbon dioxide, suggests the presence of a potential water ocean and the possibility of biological activity.
- The identification of Hycean worlds like K2-18 b is significant for the search for life beyond Earth, expanding the traditional focus on smaller rocky planets to include larger exoplanets that offer more conducive atmospheres for atmospheric observations.
28 Articles
28 Articles
James Webb telescope stumbles onto signs of possible life on Earth-like planet - News Facts Network
Astronomers using the James Webb Space Telescope say they have stumbled onto possible signs of life coming from a massive Earth-like exoplanet, NASA confirmed in a release... The post James Webb telescope stumbles onto signs of possible life on Earth-like planet appeared first on News Facts Network.
Webb discovers methane, carbon dioxide in atmosphere of K2-18 b
Baltimore MD (SPX) Sep 12, 2023 A new investigation with NASA's James Webb Space Telescope into K2-18 b, an exoplanet 8.6 times as massive as Earth, has revealed the presence of carbon-bearing molecules including methane and carbon dioxide. Webb's discovery adds to recent studies suggesting that K2-18 b could be a Hycean exoplanet, one which has the potential to possess a hydrogen-rich atmosphere and a water ocean-covered surf
Beyond Earth: Webb Space Telescope Detects Key Molecules on Exoplanet K2-18 b
Data hints at exoplanet possessing possible liquid ocean surface. Carbon-bearing molecules have been discovered in the atmosphere of the habitable zone exoplanet K2-18 b by an international team of astronomers using data from NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope. These results are consistent with an e
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