First Detection of Super-Earth Atmosphere

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Originally shared by Pierre Markuse

First Detection of Super-Earth Atmosphere

For the first time astronomers were able to analyse the atmosphere of an exoplanet in the class known as super-Earths (https://goo.gl/GgciDp). Using data gathered with the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope and new analysis techniques, the exoplanet 55 Cancri e is revealed to have a dry atmosphere without any indications of water vapour. The results, to be published in the Astrophysical Journal, indicate that the atmosphere consists mainly of hydrogen and helium. The international team, led by scientists from University College London (UCL) in the UK, took observations of the nearby exoplanet 55 Cancri e (https://goo.gl/0eGhSW), a super-Earth with a mass of eight Earth-masses. It is located in the planetary system of 55 Cancri (https://goo.gl/iSkLVq), a star about 40 light-years from Earth.

Full story here:
http://www.spacetelescope.org/news/heic1603/

What is an exoplanet?
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Exoplanet

How do we detect exoplanets?

If you have seven minutes and would like an easy and interesting explanation of different techniques (Doppler Technique, Direct Imaging, Light Curves, Transit Timing Variations, Microlensing) to detect planets in other star systems take a look at this video:
https://youtu.be/zFPnOUSdMdc

Image credit: This artist’s impression shows the exoplanet 55 Cancri e as close-up. Due to its proximity to its parent star, the temperatures on the surface of the planet are thought to reach about 2000 degrees Celsius. ESA/Hubble, M. Kornmesser http://goo.gl/MbCm1U

#science   #astronomy   #hubble   #55Cancrie   #55Cancri  #space #exoplanet #atmosphere #superearth

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