Space and astronomy. Most known exoplanets are made of water

A group of scientists from the University of Montreal has just presented surprising new data about the previously known planetary system Kepler-138. After analyzing data from the Hubble and Spitzer telescopes, the researchers found that planets about 1.5 times the size of Earth consist largely of water.

It has not been directly discovered yet, but its existence depends on mathematical models based on careful observations. They showed that even half the volume of these globes should be occupied by matter lighter than rock, but heavier than hydrogen or helium (of which gas giants like Jupiter are composed). The most likely solution to this equation is water.

The planets of this size studied so far turned out to be rocky, Earth-like balls.

“Previously, we thought that these planets, slightly larger than the Earth, were large balls of metal and rock – larger versions of the Earth. That is why we called them super-Earths, “- says the professor. Bjorn Beneke, author of the paper published in Nature Astronomy.

The first “water worlds”

However, we have now shown that these two planets, Kepler-138c id, are of a different nature: much of their entire volume is occupied by water. This is the first time we have seen planets that can be described with certainty as water worlds. Astronomers have theorized about Planets of this type for a long time, “- the expert emphasizes.