First evidence for an exo-marine planet: LHS 1140 B is shown between the ice world (left) and Earth (right), 1.7 times more than our planet. Thanks to James Webb Space Telescope, scientists believe it could be a world with frozen or warm oceans and cloudy skies. Credit: X – Visión Artística: B. Gougeon.
We all love good stories about distant planets. In particular, there is a faint light of the possibility that anything, anything, is alive. Well, the latest topic in the world of astronomy is all about the less-than-catched name exoplanet called the LHS 1140 B, trust me, it has an expert who is really excited.
Perhaps you’ve never heard of the LHS 1140 B unless your knees are deep in the world of telescopes and Space Twitter. But this rocky planet sits “mere” (which is practically next to us from a cosmic perspective), 41 light years away, and may be the closest we have yet to find on a second Earth. This is why it is causing such a disturbance.
Warm Sea and 25 Days: Is this still the most earthly exoplanet?
First, the LHS 1140 B is not a huge ball of frozen wasteland or gas. It’s solid, big (about six times heavier than Earth), and I’ll have this. There is real evidence that it may be oceans and not ice types, but oceans. We are talking about a sea of liquid water, with temperatures of about 20°C. It’s like water that’s flashy when you actually soak your toes.
Now, before we start packing the bag, there’s a catch. This ocean does not spread evenly across the planet. LHS 1140 b Orbits that are faintly close to the star, so one side is always facing the Sun (think “tide” if you need scientific terminology). The other side is in permanent darkness. The theory is that heat is trapped in that day, creating a huge, sultry “eyeball” of water. What sounds straight from a science fiction novel is a kind of planet.
And if it’s not quirky enough, a year at the LHS 1140 B is only 25 days. Yes, you will celebrate the New Year every few weeks. Birthdays are confusing.
Hunting in Life: Why Astronomers Are Obsessed?
This is where it really gets interesting. Thanks to James Webb Space Telescope (you know, it continues to deliver jaw drop photos), astronomers believe they have found atmospheric signs. Not only is it an old atmosphere, but perhaps a nitrogen-rich atmosphere, essentially the starting ingredient of what we breathe here.
That’s not a small discovery. Detecting the atmosphere of a distant planet is like trying to find a flickering candle in the next town during a storm. The fact that Webb may have done it is impressive, to say the least.
Of course, scientists are famously cautious, and no one is yet making wild claims about the little green man. But they are quietly optimistic. Some calculations suggest that up to 20% of the planet’s mass may be water.
“Of all the exoplanets we know, this can become temperate, this is our best shot at finding evidence of liquid water,” said Charles Cuddue, a young scientist from Montreal. And, as biologists tell you, where there is water, even microorganisms with paddles can lurk life.
Why is it important for us to find habitable exoplanets?
Now you may wonder, why should we care about what is going on 41 light years apart? The truth is that these discoveries have a way of putting our own little world into perspective. The LHS 1140 B is not just a distant rock. It reminds us that our galaxy is packed with surprises. All such planets are approaching answering that old-fashioned question. Are we alone?
There’s something pretty magical about looking up at the night sky and knowing that a planet circling faint stars could have oceans that glow under eternal sunlight. Who knows – maybe something might be swimming there, they are totally unaware of the fuss that is causing it among the stargazers of Earth.
The hunt continues. Scientists say that it takes a year or two to observe the patient before they really know what’s going on with the LHS 1140 b. But one thing is certain, the universe has become a little lonely and more interesting.
Find more world news
