Researchers have made a significant discovery of a thick atmosphere surrounding a super Earth planet named 55 Cancri e, which is located in a nearby solar system. This rocky planet, twice the size of Earth, has an atmosphere composed primarily of carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide, although the exact amounts are unknown. In comparison, Earth’s atmosphere is made up of nitrogen, oxygen, argon and other gases.
The study published in the journal Nature provides strong evidence that this super Earth has an atmosphere. Ian Crossfield, an astronomer at the University of Kansas explains that despite boiling temperatures reaching up to 4,200 degrees Fahrenheit on this planet, it offers hope for the existence of other rocky planets with thick atmospheres that may be more habitable.
This super Earth is situated 41 light years away and is eight times heavier than our planet. It circles its star Copernicus closely and has permanent day and night sides. By studying observations from the Webb Space Telescope, researchers were able to determine its temperature and analyze how heat is distributed evenly across its surface – a characteristic associated with atmospheres.
The gases emitted from this planet’s magma oceans could be crucial in maintaining its atmosphere. Further investigation into this super Earth may offer insights into the early evolution of Earth and Mars both of which may have had magma oceans that have since cooled. Renyu Hu, a planetary scientist at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory involved in the research describes this discovery as “a rare window into understanding the early phases of planet evolution.”