'Super-Earth' with atmosphere discovered outside solar system - Is it habitable?

Scientists have found rocky planets outside of our solar system that contain an atmosphere, which is anecessary conditionfor any chance of sustaining life. However, this planetappears to have a molten rock surface and is inhabitable.

Scientists describe the planet as a "super-Earth," larger than Earth but smaller than Neptune. This planet circles a star that is dimmer and smaller than our sun. It completes its orbit in around 18 hours.

The existence of the large hostile planet was revealed by the James Webb Space Telescope's infrared scans with two sensors.

Add WION as a Preferred Source

"The atmosphere is likely rich in carbon dioxide or carbon monoxide, but can also have other gases such as water vapor and sulfur dioxide. The current observations cannot pinpoint the exact atmospheric composition," said planetary scientist Renyu Hu, the lead author of the study published in the journal Nature.

The atmosphere's thickness was not evident from the Webb data. Hu said that it may be just as thick as Earth's or even thicker.

The planet known as Janssen, or 55 Cancri e, has a diameter of around twice that of Earth and is roughly 8.8 times more massive than Earth. It circles its star at a distance one-fifth that of Mercury. Consequently, the temperature at its surface is around 3,140 degrees Fahrenheit (1,725 degrees Celsius/2,000 degrees Kelvin).

"Indeed, this is one of the hottest-known rocky exoplanets," said astrophysicist and study co-author Brice-Olivier Demory. "There are likely better places for a vacation spot in our galaxy," he added.

The planet is situated in the constellation Cancer, approximately 41 light-years from Earth, within our Milky Way galaxy.

"On Earth, the atmosphere is key for life," Demory said.

"This result on 55 Cnc e entertains the hope that Webb could conduct similar investigations on planets that are much cooler than 55 Cnc e, which could support liquid water at their surface. But we are not there yet," he added.

(With inputs from agencies)