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Lhs 1140b

All articles tagged with #lhs 1140b

science1 month ago•5 min saved

Small Probes, Big Voyages: How Light Sails Could Open Interstellar Travel

The confirmation of an atmosphere on exoplanet LHS 1140b in its star’s habitable zone fuels serious discussion of interstellar missions using ultra-light light sails propelled by gigawatt lasers or solar radiation, carrying tiny smart-sensor nodes that could relay data back to Earth over decades. This Breakthrough Starshot–style concept emphasizes miniaturized tech and AI-enabled probes as potential first explorers to nearby star systems, though achieving deceleration and reliable data return remains a challenge.

via Gizmodo|

#breakthrough-starshot #interstellar-travel #lhs-1140b

space1 month ago•200 min saved

Rocky World LHS 1140b Might Harbor an Atmosphere, Scientists Say

Scientists report promising signs that the rocky exoplanet LHS 1140b, about 49 light-years away in its star’s habitable zone, could have an atmosphere after detecting helium during a transit, a hint that it may have lost its hydrogen but retained helium and possibly other gases. If confirmed, this would make LHS 1140b the first known rocky planet in a habitable zone with an atmosphere, a major step for habitability studies. However, a 2025 follow-up failed to re-detect helium, so further observations with JWST and Hubble are planned to confirm the signal and search for other atmospheric components such as water.

via CNN|

#atmosphere #exoplanets #habitable-zone

science1 month ago•10 min saved

Helium Clues Hint at Earth-like Atmosphere on Distant World LHS 1140b

New observations of exoplanet LHS 1140b—a nearby super-Earth—hint at a helium-rich upper atmosphere and possible Earth-like conditions, based on helium-loss signals observed by Cherubim and colleagues. At ~49 light-years away, orbiting a dim red dwarf with a ~25-day period, direct observations are unlikely for now, but if confirmed the finding would place LHS 1140b on the short list of promising habitable exoplanets.

via Hackaday|

#atmosphere #exoplanets #habitable

science-space1 month ago•5 min saved

Helium escapes hint at atmosphere on rocky world in habitable zone

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.

via Nature|

#atmosphere #exoplanets #habitable-zone

space-exploration1 month ago•4 min saved

Atmosphere detected on rocky exoplanet in habitable zone signals potential for life

Astronomers have detected helium in the upper atmosphere of LHS 1140b, a rocky Earth-like planet in the habitable zone about 48 light-years away, marking the first confirmed atmosphere on a rocky world in such a zone; future observations with JWST will probe deeper for signs of life, while its companion LHS 1140c appears to lack an atmosphere.

via Financial Times|

#atmosphere #exoplanets #habitable-zone

space1 month ago•3 min saved

Atmosphere Detected on Rocky Exoplanet in Habitable Zone Sparks Hope for Surface Water

Researchers report the first observational evidence of an atmosphere on a rocky exoplanet in its star’s habitable zone—LHS 1140b, about 49 light-years away—raising the possibility of surface liquid water and making it a prime target for studying habitability around red dwarfs. The team observed helium escaping from the planet in 2024 with a Magellan telescope infrared spectrograph, a signal later not detected in 2025, but after ruling out false positives they say the discovery marks a crucial step toward understanding life-supporting conditions beyond our solar system, while LHS 1140c shows no detectable atmosphere.

via The Guardian|

#astrobiology #atmosphere #exoplanets

astronomy2 years ago•1 min saved

"Life-Friendly Water World: LHS 1140b, a Nearby Exoplanet"

A recent study suggests that the exoplanet LHS 1140b, located 50 light-years away, may be a life-friendly water world due to its mass and orbit around an M-type star. Discovered in 2017, LHS 1140b was initially thought to be rocky, but further analysis indicates it could contain significant water or have a light element-filled atmosphere. The James Webb Space Telescope may provide more insight into the exoplanet's composition in the future, potentially making it a prime candidate in the search for extraterrestrial life.

via WION|

#astronomy #exoplanet #james-webb-space-telescope

space-science2 years ago•4 min saved

"Exploring Habitable Exoplanets: Water-Rich Worlds and Alien Life Detection"

A new study suggests that the exoplanet LHS 1140b, located 50 light-years away, may be a water world with the potential for life. The planet, discovered in 2017, is in the habitable zone of its star and could be rich in water or possess a substantial atmosphere. The James Webb Space Telescope may provide further insight into the planet's composition and habitability. If confirmed as a water world, LHS 1140b could become a prime target in the search for extraterrestrial life.

via Space.com|

#exoplanet #habitable-zone #james-webb-space-telescope