Inbox Astronomy: Webb Discovers Methane, Carbon Dioxide in Atmosphere of K2-18 b

INBOX ASTRONOMY

Webb Discovers Methane, Carbon Dioxide in Atmosphere of K2-18 b

Release date: Monday, September 11, 2023 10:00:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time

Data hints at exoplanet possessing possible liquid ocean surface

Carbon-bearing molecules have been discovered in the atmosphere of the habitable zone exoplanet K2-18 b by an international team of astronomers using data from the NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope. These results are consistent with an exoplanet that may contain ocean-covered surface underneath a hydrogen-rich atmosphere. This discovery provides a fascinating glimpse into a planet unlike anything else in our Solar System, and raises interesting prospects about potentially habitable worlds elsewhere in the Universe.

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

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