Astronomers Propose a Novel Method of Finding Atmospheres on Rocky Worlds

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Astronomers Propose a Novel Method of Finding Atmospheres on Rocky Worlds

Release date: December 2, 2019

Webb Telescope Could Detect Heat Signature in a Matter of Hours, They Calculate

Rocky planets orbiting red dwarf stars are appealing targets for astronomers since they are both common and easier to study than other planet varieties. One long-standing question is whether such planets can host atmospheres, since they experience a harsh environment of stellar flares and particle winds.

A team of astronomers calculates that NASA's upcoming James Webb Space Telescope could potentially detect signs of an atmosphere in just a few hours of observing time. Since the presence of an atmosphere would lower the observed temperature of the planet's dayside, relative to bare rock, a world with an atmosphere would have a distinct heat signature.

Although the technique works best for planets too hot to be in the habitable zone, it could have important implications for habitable-zone worlds. If astronomers find that hot, rocky planets can preserve an atmosphere, then cooler planets should be able to as well.

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Find additional articles, images, and videos at WebbTelescope.org.

Produced by the Space Telescope Science Institute's Office of Public Outreach.

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