The results of the research were published in The Astrophysical Journal Letters.
LHS 1140 B It is a planet orbiting a small star. It is 48 light years away from us. This star is a red dwarf with a radius only about 15 percent the radius of the Sun and a much lower temperature than our daytime star (about 3,000 K compared to 5,800 K).
However, the star’s parameters do not prevent it from being around. The so-called habitable zone (ecological envelope, ecoregion), Or a region where conditions on the planet’s surface allow for liquid water to exist. Simply put, the planet must orbit much closer to the star than Earth orbits the Sun. That’s the case for LHS 1140 b, which has an orbital period of just under 25 days.
The planet receives about 42 percent of the radiation that reaches Earth from the Sun. Calculations suggest that this should result in a temperature of about minus 50 degrees Celsius, which, after taking into account atmospheric effects, should give a chance for liquid water to exist if the body has an atmosphere made up of nitrogen and carbon dioxide, or if it is an ocean world with a hydrogen-rich atmosphere. For example, for Earth, the theoretical temperature of radiation equilibrium is minus 18 degrees Celsius, but due to the greenhouse effect of the atmosphere, the temperature at the surface is on average plus 15 degrees Celsius.
The planet LHS 1140 b was discovered in 2017 as part of the MEarth project, Using the transit method, i.e. observing slight dips in the star’s brightness caused by a planet passing between us and the star, the object’s existence was later confirmed by spectroscopic observations using the HARPS spectrograph. In 2020, the Hubble Telescope detected water vapor in the atmosphere, Although this result has not yet been confirmed.
For some time, it was thought that the planet belonged to the so-called mini-Neptunes, i.e. gas planets smaller than Neptune. However, new observations using the Webb telescope have confirmed this. We are dealing with a rocky planet from the so-called super-Earth group. The planet is 1.7 times larger than Earth and 5.6 times more massive.
What is the state of water in LHS 1140 b? More research is needed
The question of what form of water might exist on LHS 1140 b depends on the object’s atmosphere. This requires further research, but modeling has been done based on currently known data.
The planet may be covered in ice, but in the part of the surface most exposed to the star, there is a liquid ocean that may be 4,000 kilometers wide, or roughly Half the size of the Atlantic Ocean.
Another possibility is Liquid water hidden under the surface of iceAs is the case with moons such as Ganymede, Enceladus and Europa, which are close to Jupiter and Saturn.
Scientists point out that the planet’s density indicates the presence of large amounts of water. It may reach 10 to 20 percent of the planet’s mass. For comparison, the water in Earth’s oceans makes up only 0.02% of our planet’s mass. Nitrogen signs were also noted. In the atmosphere of LHS 1140 b, this gas is the dominant component of Earth’s atmosphere (up to 78%). The study authors believe that the most likely structure of the atmosphere of LHS 1140 b is an atmosphere consisting of nitrogen with the addition of water and carbon dioxide.
There is another known planet in the system. LHS 1140 c orbits very close to the star, with an orbital period of just under 4 days. It is a sphere of similar size to Earth (1.9 Earth masses and 1.3 Earth radii), but it is much hotter there (about 150 degrees Celsius).
The latest publications analyzing the chances that LHS 1140 b is an ocean world were published in June and July 2024. The lead author of the first book is Mario Damiano of the Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena (USA), and the second is Charles Cadieux of the University of Montreal in Canada.
Echo Richards embodies a personality that is a delightful contradiction: a humble musicaholic who never brags about her expansive knowledge of both classic and contemporary tunes. Infuriatingly modest, one would never know from a mere conversation how deeply entrenched she is in the world of music. This passion seamlessly translates into her problem-solving skills, with Echo often drawing inspiration from melodies and rhythms. A voracious reader, she dives deep into literature, using stories to influence her own hardcore writing. Her spirited advocacy for alcohol isn’t about mere indulgence, but about celebrating life’s poignant moments.
