Studies show that an exoplanet named GJ 1132 b has gained a second atmosphere by the volcanic activity after it lost its original atmosphere.
Context
Studies show that an exoplanet named GJ 1132 b has gained a second atmosphere by the volcanic activity after it lost its original atmosphere.
About the finding
- The evidence of a new atmosphere was found using the National Aeronautics and Space Administration’s (NASA) Hubble telescope.
- Location:The Earth-sized rocky exoplanetis located 41 light-years away from our Earth orbits.
- Loss of atmosphere: It lost the atmosphere due to the intense radiation of the hot star it revolves around.
- New atmosphere: The atmosphere is getting back due to the gases seeping through the cracks on the planet’s surface from the molten lava. The new atmosphere is constituted of:
- The new atmosphere contains a mixture of hydrogen, methane, and hydrogen cyanide, which is toxic.
- It also contains aerosol haze like Earth, as a result of photochemically produced hydrocarbons.
GJ 1332 b
- It is similar to earth in size, density, and age.
- Before cooling down both the planets had a hydrogen-dominated atmosphere.
- The atmospheric pressure is also similar to the earth.
- The main difference between them is that the exoplanet’s orbit is too close to the red dwarf star.
- The planet is tidally locked (one hemisphere always facing the sun like Moon orbits Earth) to its Sun.
- It completes one elliptical orbit in just a day and a half.
- It looks like a cracked eggshell due to the gravitational pull of another planet.
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