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A nearby Earth-sized planet orbiting a distant star may possess an atmosphere, according to new research, potentially expanding the catalog of exoplanets known to harbor these gaseous envelopes. This intriguing exoplanet, designated L 98-59 c, is slightly larger than Earth and resides outside our solar system. Scientists utilized the Hubble Space Telescope to analyze the distant world.
Earth-Size Exoplanet L 98-59 c: A Potential Atmosphere Candidate
Located approximately 35 light-years from Earth, the exoplanet L 98-59 c is a hot, rocky world orbiting a young, luminous star. First discovered in 2019, recent evaluations of data obtained from the Hubble Space Telescope suggest the planet might be enveloped by an atmosphere. This possibility adds to the growing list of terrestrial exoplanets with detectable atmospheres, enhancing our understanding of these diverse celestial bodies.
Implications of Atmosphere Detection
Confirmation of an atmosphere on L 98-59 c would mark a significant milestone. It would represent the smallest planet to date with a definitively detected atmosphere. This discovery could establish new parameters for understanding the atmospheric characteristics of planets in this size range and their capacity to withstand harsh conditions prevalent around young, active stars.
“L 98-59 c has the potential to be the first planet smaller than two Earth radii with a conclusive atmospheric detection,” stated Thomas Barclay, a NASA Goddard Space Flight Center scientist and lead author of the study outlining these findings.
Challenges from Stellar Activity
Data previously collected by NASA’s Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS) indicates that L 98-59’s host star is more dynamically active than initially assumed. It emits a considerably greater amount of energy onto its planetary system – consisting of four, possibly five, planets – compared to our sun’s influence on Earth.
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The research paper emphasizes that “L 98-59 c presents an exceptional chance to investigate the atmospheres of planets smaller than 1.5 Earth radii that originated and evolved within a comparable stellar environment.”
Hubble Observations and Spectral Analysis
In April 2020, researchers focused Hubble’s observational capabilities on L 98-59 c as it passed in front of its star. The aim was to identify subtle spectral signatures that could indicate the presence of an atmosphere. After analyzing four Hubble orbits’ worth of observations, the team observed compelling evidence suggesting the planet’s transmission spectrum is not featureless. This non-flat spectrum potentially points towards atmospheric constituents like clouds or hazes that interact with light.
Confirmation Still Pending
The research team clarifies that the atmospheric detection is currently preliminary. The conclusion is limited by the single transit event of L 98-59 c observed. Discriminating planetary atmospheric signals from telescope data is technically demanding, particularly due to spectral contamination from the host star, which can obscure the faint atmospheric signals originating from the planet.
Future Research
Further observations of L 98-59 c are planned using the Hubble Space Telescope and potentially the James Webb Space Telescope. These forthcoming investigations are crucial to ascertain whether the observed signals are genuinely attributable to a planetary atmosphere or are artifacts of stellar spectral interference.
The details of these findings were published in the April 2 edition of the Astronomical Journal.