Produced by: Tarun Mishra Designed by: Manoj Kumar
Using the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST), astronomers have uncovered a fascinating phenomenon on the scorching hot lava planet 55 Cancri e, located 41 light-years away from Earth.
Classified as a “super-Earth,” 55 Cancri e is nearly twice the width of Earth and nine times more massive, making it denser and potentially composed of diamond due to extreme pressure.
credit : NASA/JPL-Caltech
Despite its proximity to its sun-like star, 55 Cancri e surprised astronomers by growing a secondary atmosphere after its original atmosphere is stripped away by radiation.
Led by Renyu Hu from the California Institute of Technology (Caltech), scientists investigate JWST observations to understand how 55 Cancri e defied its star’s destructive forces.
Initially discovered in 2004, 55 Cancri e’s unique properties, including its carbon composition and close orbit, have intrigued researchers for years.
Researchers have proposed two scenarios to explain the planet’s secondary atmosphere, investigating whether it’s a result of volcanic activity or outgassing from a molten surface.
Data from the JWST’s observations during secondary eclipses of 55 Cancri e provided valuable insights into its atmospheric composition and origin.
The team plans further studies to delve deeper into 55 Cancri e’s atmospheric dynamics, utilizing JWST’s capabilities to unlock more mysteries of distant exoplanets. Published in the journal Nature, this research marks a significant step forward in understanding the complex evolution of exoplanetary atmospheres.