US EditionWebb Telescope Finds Hints of Atmosphere on Distant Planet
Scientists observed four transits of TRAPPIST-1e with the James Webb Space Telescope in 2023, showing possible nitrogen-rich atmosphere but more data is needed to confirm.
- Scientists reported tentative evidence of an atmosphere on TRAPPIST-1e, based on four James Webb Space Telescope transit observations and published in two Astrophysical Journal Letters papers.
- TRAPPIST-1e sits in its star's habitable zone as the fourth of seven planets orbiting TRAPPIST-1, about 40 light years away, with mass comparable to Earth's, enabling potential liquid water if an atmosphere exists.
- The team cautioned that `What we have found with JWST in these first four observations helps refine the earlier Hubble measurements and reveals there might now be hints of an atmosphere, but we cannot yet rule out the possibility there is nothing to detect` and noted that in the coming years observations will increase to nearly 20.
- The research team is now obtaining more JWST transits and will compare planet e's signals with planet b's data, reporting the planet likely lacks its original hydrogen atmosphere.
- Researchers say the result marks a significant step in searching for habitable worlds, as part of the JWST-TST DREAMS programme led by Dr Nikole Lewis and involving more than 30 scientists from the U.K., U.S., and India.
31 Articles
31 Articles
Only 40 light-years away Trappist-1e could have an atmosphere. The discovery gives hope – but a red dwarf star poses problems to the researchers.
A rocky planet in its star’s ‘habitable zone’ could be the first known to have an atmosphere – here’s what we found
New research using Nasa’s powerful JWST telescope has identified a planet 41 light years away which may have an atmosphere. The planet is within the “habitable zone”, the region around a star where temperatures make it possible for liquid water to exist on the surface of a rocky world. This is important because water is a key ingredient that supports the existence of life. If confirmed by further observations, this would be the first rocky, habi…
NASA Studies Earth-Like Planet for Potential Alien Life
Artist’s impression of TRAPPIST-1e planet. Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech / Wikimedia Commons / Public Domain Astronomers using NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope are closely examining a distant Earth-like planet in hopes of uncovering signs of life beyond our solar system. The planet, known as TRAPPIST-1e, lies about 40 light-years away and sits in the so-called habitable zone — a region around a star where conditions may allow liquid water to exist. …
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