A 'super-Earth' orbiting a star 40 light years away could be a steamy waterworld, research suggests. The planet, which is 2.6 times bigger than Earth, has given scientists their first chance to analyse the atmosphere of a world outside the solar system. Astronomers using the European Southern Observatory's 3.6m telescope in Chile discovered possible evidence of water in the form of steam shrouding the planet. Alternatively, the planet could have a mostly hydrogen atmosphere hidden beneath high clouds or hazes, as seen on Venus or Saturn's moon Titan. Codenamed GJ 1214b, the planet lies in the constellation of Ophiuchus, the Serpent Bearer. Since it hugs its parent star at a distance of only two million kilometres - 70 times closer than the Earth is to the Sun - conditions on its surface are hot. The astronomers carried out their study by analysing light coming from the star as the planet passed in front of it. The planet travels across the disc of its parent star once every 38 hours as it orbits.(Daily Mail)Thursday, 2 December 2010
Waterworld discovered: Scientists analyse 'steamy' atmosphere of super-Earth 40 light years away
A 'super-Earth' orbiting a star 40 light years away could be a steamy waterworld, research suggests. The planet, which is 2.6 times bigger than Earth, has given scientists their first chance to analyse the atmosphere of a world outside the solar system. Astronomers using the European Southern Observatory's 3.6m telescope in Chile discovered possible evidence of water in the form of steam shrouding the planet. Alternatively, the planet could have a mostly hydrogen atmosphere hidden beneath high clouds or hazes, as seen on Venus or Saturn's moon Titan. Codenamed GJ 1214b, the planet lies in the constellation of Ophiuchus, the Serpent Bearer. Since it hugs its parent star at a distance of only two million kilometres - 70 times closer than the Earth is to the Sun - conditions on its surface are hot. The astronomers carried out their study by analysing light coming from the star as the planet passed in front of it. The planet travels across the disc of its parent star once every 38 hours as it orbits.(Daily Mail)