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Webb Telescope examines TRAPPIST-1 e for atmospheric clues.
NASA's James Webb Space Telescope is investigating TRAPPIST-1 e, an Earth-sized exoplanet in the habitable zone of its star. Initial observations using Webb's infrared instruments suggest that TRAPPIST-1 e likely lacks its primary atmosphere, typically composed of hydrogen and helium, due to the star's intense radiation. However, the possibility of a secondary atmosphere remains open. Researchers are employing innovative methods to analyze the planet's atmospheric composition by comparing data from transits of TRAPPIST-1 e and its neighboring planet, TRAPPIST-1 b, which is believed to be a bare rock.
The study aims to determine if TRAPPIST-1 e could harbor liquid water, potentially sustained by a greenhouse effect. While the presence of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere is uncertain, it could indicate conditions suitable for water in some form, possibly as a global ocean or localized bodies of water. The research is part of a broader effort to understand the potential habitability of exoplanets.
The findings are detailed in two papers published in the Astrophysical Journal Letters. The ongoing research is led by NΓ©stor Espinoza and Natalie Allen, with 15 additional observations planned to refine the understanding of TRAPPIST-1 e's atmosphere.
Originally published by
NASA News
Article ID
#510
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