Rapid Fire
Atmosphere of a 55 Cancri e Exoplanet
- 10 May 2024
- 2 min read
Scientists have recently detected a dense atmosphere enveloping 55 Cancri e, a super-Earth twice the size of our planet, shedding light on its unique characteristics and potential implications for exoplanetary research.
- The atmosphere of 55 Cancri e is comprised of carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide, although exact amounts remain unclear.
- Unlike Earth's atmosphere, which is a blend of nitrogen, oxygen, argon, and other gases, the atmosphere of 55 Cancri e is markedly different.
- The boiling temperatures on 55 Cancri e, reaching up to 2,300°C, make it inhospitable for life as we know it.
- Despite its uninhabitable conditions, the discovery offers hope for finding other rocky planets with thick atmospheres that may be more conducive to life.
- The 55 Cancri e is an exoplanet, located 41 light years away, has a mass eight times that of Earth and is characterised by permanent day and night sides.
- It is a super-Earth, which is a unique class of planets that are larger than Earth but lighter than ice giants like Neptune and Uranus.
- They can be composed of gas, rock, or a combination of both, and are typically between two to ten times the mass of Earth.
- The findings suggest that gases from magma oceans on the planet's surface may contribute to maintaining its atmosphere.
- Exploring 55 Cancri e could provide insights into the evolutionary processes of Earth and Mars.
