Helium escapes hint at atmosphere on rocky world in habitable zone
TL;DR Summary
Astronomers observing LHS 1140b, a rocky planet in its star’s habitable zone, detected helium escaping from its outer atmosphere, suggesting it has a helium-rich atmosphere and may host conditions suitable for life; the inner atmospheric composition and actual presence of water aren’t confirmed, and findings require replication with future observations.
- Found: a rocky exoplanet with an atmosphere — could it host life? Nature
- Astronomers Find an Atmosphere on a Nearby Earthlike Planet The New York Times
- First atmosphere found around Earth-like planet LHS 1140b BBC
- Earth-like exoplanet found to have an atmosphere The Guardian
- First atmosphere detected on a habitable-zone rocky world Center for Astrophysics | Harvard & Smithsonian
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