Astronomers have observed a distant planet that may be completely covered by a deep ocean, a discovery that advances the search for habitable conditions beyond Earth. From the report: Observations by NASA's James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) reveal chemical signatures of water vapor, methane, and carbon dioxide in the atmosphere of an exoplanet about 70 light years away, twice the radius of Earth. became. Researchers at the University of Cambridge say this mix of chemicals is consistent with oceans having a world of water spread across their surfaces and a hydrogen-rich atmosphere, but does not predict the serene and inviting ocean landscape. It is said that there is no. “The sea can be over 100 degrees [Celsius] Professor Nick Madhusudan, who led the analysis, added that even with high atmospheric pressure an ocean this hot could still be liquid, but “we don't know if it would be habitable.”
This interpretation, supported by a paper published in the journal Astronomy and Astrophysics Letters, was challenged by a Canadian team that made additional observations of the same exoplanet, known as TOI-270 d. There is. Although they detected the same atmospheric chemicals, they argued that the planet was too hot (perhaps 4000 degrees Celsius) for liquid water, and instead replaced it with a rocky atmosphere covered in an incredibly dense atmosphere of hydrogen and water vapor. claimed that it would feature a surface. Whichever view prevails, these latest observations illustrate the surprising insights James Webb has about the nature of planets beyond our solar system. The telescope captures starlight filtered through the orbiting planet's atmosphere and provides a detailed analysis of the chemical elements present. Based on this, astronomers can build a complete picture of the conditions on the planet's surface and the potential for life to survive there.