Using the James Webb Space Telescope, scientists looked into the exoplanet GJ 9827 d in the constellation Pisces and found that this super-Earth has an atmosphere that is saturated with water vapour.

The telescope was used by the Canadian-led international study to gather data on the atmosphere of GJ 9827 d which is around 98 light-years away from Earth.&nbsp;

<h2>Here's what scientists found in the exoplanet's atmosphere</h2>

In the study, it was found that the atmosphere of the planet has a high concentration of heavy molecules, which included a good amount of water vapour. Because of this, the astronomers believed that it was a “steam world”.

At the start of the year,&nbsp;with the help of data collected by the Hubble Space Telescope, IREx researchers stated that they had found water in the atmosphere of GJ 9827 d, which made it the smallest exoplanet with a confirmed atmosphere.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/exoplanet-discovery-barnards-star-the-nearest-single-star-to-earth-has-a-tiny-planet-bernard-b-763809">Exoplanet discovery:&nbsp;Barnard's star, the nearest single star to Earth, has a tiny planet Barnard b</a>

These major findings opened new ways for scientists who are searching for life outside our Solar System.

Till now, the detection of atmospheres near smaller planets closer to Earth was an elusive goal.&nbsp;

“For now, all the planets we’ve detected that have atmospheres are giant planets, or at best mini-Neptunes,” stated lead study author Piaulet-Ghorayeb.

“These planets have atmospheres made up mostly of hydrogen, making them more similar to gas giants in the solar system than to terrestrial planets like Earth, which have atmospheres dominated by heavier elements," he said.

The observations were made by Piaulet-Ghorayeb and her team with the help of a Canadian instrument on JWST, the Near-Infrared Imager and Slitless Spectrograph (NIRISS).&nbsp;

With the help of transmission spectroscopy, the scientists observed the starlight which passed through the atmosphere of the planet as it transited (passed in front of) its host star, GJ 9827.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/ceres-largest-object-in-asteroid-belt-shows-signs-of-life-near-ertunet-crater-762152">Ceres, largest object in asteroid belt, shows signs of habitability near Ertunet Crater</a>

The new JWST observations were then combined with preliminary HST observations to provide strong evidence about how the planet’s atmosphere led to the observed spectral features and it did not occur because of the contamination from the system’s star.

It was observed that the exoplanet GJ 9827 stands different from others because of the composition of its atmosphere.&nbsp;

Piaulet-Ghorayeb combined JWST/NIRISS and HST data and showed that the atmosphere of GJ 9827 d is filled with heavier molecules and a quite large amount of water vapour, which is not the situation in the case of the hydrogen-dominated atmospheres of the larger planets.

With the combination of data from JWST's Near-Infrared Imager and Slitless Spectrograph (NIRISS) with earlier HST data, Piaulet-Ghorayeb and her team showed that the atmosphere of the planet is significantly different from those of larger planets.&nbsp;

"It's closer in molecular weight to the carbon dioxide or nitrogen-rich atmospheres that we are currently looking for on smaller rocky planets, where we would eventually look for life," she said.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

Using the James Webb Space Telescope, scientists looked into the exoplanet GJ 9827 d in the constellation Pisces and found that this super-Earth has an atmosphere that is saturated with water vapour.

Using the James Webb Space Telescope, scientists looked into the exoplanet GJ 9827 d in the constellation Pisces and found that this super-Earth has an atmosphere that is saturated with water vapour. The telescope was used by the Canadian-led international study to gather data on the atmosphere of GJ 9827 d which is around 98 light-years away from Earth. Here's what scientists found in the exoplanet's atmosphere In the study, it was found that the atmosphere of the planet has a high concentration of heavy molecules, which included a good amount of water vapour. Because of this, the astronomers believed that it was a “steam world”. At the start of the year, with the help of data collected by the Hubble Space Telescope, IREx researchers stated that they had found water in the atmosphere of GJ 9827 d, which made it the smallest exoplanet with a confirmed atmosphere. Also Read: Exoplanet discovery: Barnard's star, the nearest single star to Earth, has a tiny planet Barnard b These major findings opened new ways for scientists who are searching for life outside our Solar System. Till now, the detection of atmospheres near smaller planets closer to Earth was an elusive goal. “For now, all the planets we’ve detected that have atmospheres are giant planets, or at best mini-Neptunes,” stated lead study author Piaulet-Ghorayeb. “These planets have atmospheres made up mostly of hydrogen, making them more similar to gas giants in the solar system than to terrestrial planets like Earth, which have atmospheres dominated by heavier elements," he said. The observations were made by Piaulet-Ghorayeb and her team with the help of a Canadian instrument on JWST, the Near-Infrared Imager and Slitless Spectrograph (NIRISS). With the help of transmission spectroscopy, the scientists observed the starlight which passed through the atmosphere of the planet as it transited (passed in front of) its host star, GJ 9827. Also Read: Ceres, largest object in asteroid belt, shows signs of habitability near Ertunet Crater The new JWST observations were then combined with preliminary HST observations to provide strong evidence about how the planet’s atmosphere led to the observed spectral features and it did not occur because of the contamination from the system’s star. It was observed that the exoplanet GJ 9827 stands different from others because of the composition of its atmosphere. Piaulet-Ghorayeb combined JWST/NIRISS and HST data and showed that the atmosphere of GJ 9827 d is filled with heavier molecules and a quite large amount of water vapour, which is not the situation in the case of the hydrogen-dominated atmospheres of the larger planets. With the combination of data from JWST's Near-Infrared Imager and Slitless Spectrograph (NIRISS) with earlier HST data, Piaulet-Ghorayeb and her team showed that the atmosphere of the planet is significantly different from those of larger planets. "It's closer in molecular weight to the carbon dioxide or nitrogen-rich atmospheres that we are currently looking for on smaller rocky planets, where we would eventually look for life," she said. (With inputs from agencies)

There is a 'steam world' with water vapour in outer space. Is it habitable?

A high-intensity eruption occurred in the underwater volcano Hunga Tonga–Hunga Ha'apai on January 15, 2022, which led to a powerful&nbsp;tsunami throughout Tonga.&nbsp;

But this event also had another lasting effect which was the launch of high amounts of aerosol and water vapor&nbsp;plumes towards the sky. This was the largest underwater explosion to have ever been recorded by modern scientific instruments.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/volcano-erupts-following-tremors-in-eastern-russia-scientists-warn-of-a-stronger-earthquake-751290">Volcano erupts following tremors in Eastern Russia; scientists warn of stronger earthquake</a>

The scientists examined how the eruption of Volcano Hunga impacted the climate in the Southern Hemisphere in the next two years.

<h2>Here's how volcanic eruption impacted climate</h2>

The scientists discovered that there was a stronger cooling effect from volcanic aerosols reflecting sunlight into outer space after the eruption in comparison to the warming that happened because of heat getting trapped by the water vapours in the atmosphere.

However, by the end of 2023, more of the effects of the volcano had dissipated.

Satellite data was used by the researchers to examine how stratospheric aerosols, gases, and temperatures had changed after the eruption.&nbsp;

It was discovered that the Hunga eruption poured 150 metric megatons of water vapour into the stratosphere. This is a very high amount and has increased global levels&nbsp;of stratospheric water vapour by about 10 per cent.

In the tropical stratosphere, the massive water injection led to the cooling of temperatures by 4°C in March and April of 2022.&nbsp;

The temporary cooling led to the formation of a secondary circulation pattern because of which ozone levels started reducing throughout 2022.

Watch |&nbsp;Europe: Footage shows explosive Mount Etna eruption

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The Hunga eruption&nbsp;also led to the release of 0.5 and 1.5 metric megatons of sulfur dioxide into the stratosphere.&nbsp;

Sulfur dioxide produces sulfate aerosols which reflect sunlight and can lead to a reduction in surface&nbsp;radiative forcing or the difference between outgoing and incoming radiation.&nbsp;

This can also cause global cooling if enough amount of aerosol is loaded as was the case in the 1991&nbsp;eruption of Mount Pinatubo, during which 20 metric megatons of sulfur dioxide was released.

The Hunga aerosol load was not huge and had confined effects on the Southern Hemisphere in 2022 and 2023.

(With inputs from agencies)

A high-intensity eruption occurred in the underwater volcano Hunga Tonga–Hunga Ha'apai on January 15, 2022, which led to a powerful tsunami throughout Tonga. But this event also had another lasting effect which was the launch of high amounts of aerosol and water vapor plumes towards the sky.

A high-intensity eruption occurred in the underwater volcano Hunga Tonga–Hunga Ha'apai on January 15, 2022, which led to a powerful tsunami throughout Tonga. But this event also had another lasting effect which was the launch of high amounts of aerosol and water vapor plumes towards the sky. This was the largest underwater explosion to have ever been recorded by modern scientific instruments. Also Read: Volcano erupts following tremors in Eastern Russia; scientists warn of stronger earthquake The scientists examined how the eruption of Volcano Hunga impacted the climate in the Southern Hemisphere in the next two years. Here's how volcanic eruption impacted climate The scientists discovered that there was a stronger cooling effect from volcanic aerosols reflecting sunlight into outer space after the eruption in comparison to the warming that happened because of heat getting trapped by the water vapours in the atmosphere. However, by the end of 2023, more of the effects of the volcano had dissipated. Satellite data was used by the researchers to examine how stratospheric aerosols, gases, and temperatures had changed after the eruption. It was discovered that the Hunga eruption poured 150 metric megatons of water vapour into the stratosphere. This is a very high amount and has increased global levels of stratospheric water vapour by about 10 per cent. In the tropical stratosphere, the massive water injection led to the cooling of temperatures by 4°C in March and April of 2022. The temporary cooling led to the formation of a secondary circulation pattern because of which ozone levels started reducing throughout 2022. Watch | Europe: Footage shows explosive Mount Etna eruption The Hunga eruption also led to the release of 0.5 and 1.5 metric megatons of sulfur dioxide into the stratosphere. Sulfur dioxide produces sulfate aerosols which reflect sunlight and can lead to a reduction in surface radiative forcing or the difference between outgoing and incoming radiation. This can also cause global cooling if enough amount of aerosol is loaded as was the case in the 1991 eruption of Mount Pinatubo, during which 20 metric megatons of sulfur dioxide was released. The Hunga aerosol load was not huge and had confined effects on the Southern Hemisphere in 2022 and 2023. (With inputs from agencies)

An underwater volcanic eruption filled stratosphere with 150 metric tonnes of water vapour. Here's how

Water, the universal solvent, has been the cradle in which life on Earth developed. Even when hunting for signs of life in space, the presence of water is taken to be a promising one. Now, scientists have found water, thrice than that in all of Earth's oceans taken together, in a disc around a young star. The water is present in the disc which can subsequently form planet/s revolving around the star.&nbsp;

The discovery was made by these scientists using the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA) in Chile. The European Southern Observatory (ESO) is a partner in the ALMA project.

The scientists have not only captured the image of the star but have also mapped the water swirling in the planet-forming disc.

“I had never imagined that we could capture an image of oceans of water vapour in the same region where a planet is likely forming,” says Stefano Facchini, an astronomer from the University of Milan, as quoted by EurekaAlert.

Facchini led the study which was published in the journal Nature Astronomy on Thursday (Feb 29)

HL Tauri, the star around which the water is swirling is 450 light-years away from Earth in the Taurus constellation.

"It is truly remarkable that we can not only detect but also capture detailed images and spatially resolve water vapour at a distance of 450 light-years from us,” says co-author Leonardo Testi, an astronomer from the University of Bologna, Italy.

Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/earth-like-exoplanet-destroys-its-own-atmosphere-reduces-hope-for-existence-of-alien-life-695153">Earth-like exoplanet destroys its own atmosphere, reduces hope of existence of alien life</a>

"Taking part in such an important discovery in the iconic HL Tauri disc was beyond what I had ever expected for my first research experience in astronomy,” Mathieu Vander Donckt from the University of Liège, Belgium said. He was a masters student when he took part in the research.

“Our recent images reveal a substantial quantity of water vapour at a range of distances from the star that include a gap where a planet could potentially be forming at the present time,” says Facchini.

All of them were quoted by EurekaAlert.

(With inputs from agencies)

Water, the universal solvent, has been the cradle in which life on Earth developed. Even when hunting for signs of life in space, the presence of water is taken to be a promising one.

Water, the universal solvent, has been the cradle in which life on Earth developed. Even when hunting for signs of life in space, the presence of water is taken to be a promising one. Now, scientists have found water, thrice than that in all of Earth's oceans taken together, in a disc around a young star. The water is present in the disc which can subsequently form planet/s revolving around the star. The discovery was made by these scientists using the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA) in Chile. The European Southern Observatory (ESO) is a partner in the ALMA project. The scientists have not only captured the image of the star but have also mapped the water swirling in the planet-forming disc. “I had never imagined that we could capture an image of oceans of water vapour in the same region where a planet is likely forming,” says Stefano Facchini, an astronomer from the University of Milan, as quoted by EurekaAlert. Facchini led the study which was published in the journal Nature Astronomy on Thursday (Feb 29) HL Tauri, the star around which the water is swirling is 450 light-years away from Earth in the Taurus constellation. "It is truly remarkable that we can not only detect but also capture detailed images and spatially resolve water vapour at a distance of 450 light-years from us,” says co-author Leonardo Testi, an astronomer from the University of Bologna, Italy. Also Read | Earth-like exoplanet destroys its own atmosphere, reduces hope of existence of alien life "Taking part in such an important discovery in the iconic HL Tauri disc was beyond what I had ever expected for my first research experience in astronomy,” Mathieu Vander Donckt from the University of Liège, Belgium said. He was a masters student when he took part in the research. “Our recent images reveal a substantial quantity of water vapour at a range of distances from the star that include a gap where a planet could potentially be forming at the present time,” says Facchini. All of them were quoted by EurekaAlert. (With inputs from agencies)

Scientists find water thrice that on Earth swirling around a young star

Water for us is equivalent to life. Not just in biological sense but even in our search for extraterrestrial life. Water is necessary for life as we know it. Likelihood of presence of water, water vapour or even ice, therefore makes news in scientific community and telescopes from around the world get pointed at the celestial object of interest.

James Webb Space Telescope has found water vapour around a rocky exoplanet revolving around its star. JWST used its Near-Infrared Spectrograph (NIRSpec) to detect signals of water vapour around a rocky planet designated as GJ 486.

The planet is too close to the star to be in its habitable zone. On the surface of the planet, the average temperature is 430 degrees Celsius.

If the detected water vapour is indeed associated with the planet, it may mean that the planet has an atmosphere in spite of it being close to its star. This will be a huge development indeed as till date, there hasn't been a definite discovery of atmosphere around a rocky exoplanet.

However, in case of GJ486, scientists are still trying to determine whether the water vapour is associated with the planet or it is associated with the star itself, specifically with the cooler spots of the star.

Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/aurora-dazzles-in-ladakh-skies-after-geomagnetic-storm-hits-earth-588144">Aurora dazzles in Ladakh skies after geomagnetic storm hits earth</a>

“We see a signal, and it’s almost certainly due to water. But we can't tell yet if that water is part of the planet's atmosphere, meaning the planet has an atmosphere, or if we’re just seeing a water signature coming from the star,” said Sarah Moran of the University of Arizona in Tucson as quoted by NASA on its website. Moran is the lead author of the study.

“Water vapor in an atmosphere on a hot rocky planet would represent a major breakthrough for exoplanet science. But we must be careful and make sure that the star is not the culprit,” added Kevin Stevenson of the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory in Laurel, Maryland. Stevenson was quoted by NASA.&nbsp;

You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us <a href="https://www.wionews.com/content-contribution-registration-form">here</a>.

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Water for us is equivalent to life. Not just in biological sense but even in our search for extraterrestrial life. Water is necessary for life as we know it. Likelihood of presence of water, water vapour or even ice, therefore makes news in scientific community and telescopes from around the world get pointed at the celestial object of interest.

Water for us is equivalent to life. Not just in biological sense but even in our search for extraterrestrial life. Water is necessary for life as we know it. Likelihood of presence of water, water vapour or even ice, therefore makes news in scientific community and telescopes from around the world get pointed at the celestial object of interest. James Webb Space Telescope has found water vapour around a rocky exoplanet revolving around its star. JWST used its Near-Infrared Spectrograph (NIRSpec) to detect signals of water vapour around a rocky planet designated as GJ 486. The planet is too close to the star to be in its habitable zone. On the surface of the planet, the average temperature is 430 degrees Celsius. If the detected water vapour is indeed associated with the planet, it may mean that the planet has an atmosphere in spite of it being close to its star. This will be a huge development indeed as till date, there hasn't been a definite discovery of atmosphere around a rocky exoplanet. However, in case of GJ486, scientists are still trying to determine whether the water vapour is associated with the planet or it is associated with the star itself, specifically with the cooler spots of the star. Also Read | Aurora dazzles in Ladakh skies after geomagnetic storm hits earth “We see a signal, and it’s almost certainly due to water. But we can't tell yet if that water is part of the planet's atmosphere, meaning the planet has an atmosphere, or if we’re just seeing a water signature coming from the star,” said Sarah Moran of the University of Arizona in Tucson as quoted by NASA on its website. Moran is the lead author of the study. “Water vapor in an atmosphere on a hot rocky planet would represent a major breakthrough for exoplanet science. But we must be careful and make sure that the star is not the culprit,” added Kevin Stevenson of the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory in Laurel, Maryland. Stevenson was quoted by NASA. You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. WATCH WION LIVE HERE ×

JWST catches evidence of water vapour around faraway planet

Here's another hope for finding life on another planet. Water vapour detected in Exoplanet's atmosphere.

Discovery Outside of our solar system

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