NASA/ESA/Leah Hustak (STScI)/Ralf Crawford (STScI)
Illustration of the GJ 9827D exoplanet, the smallest exoplanet where water vapor was detected in the atmosphere. The planet can be an example of potential planets with water -rich atmospheres elsewhere in our galaxy.
And there is a new model to understand these worlds. More detailed analyzes of their characteristics may be crucial to the search for habitable environments beyond the solar system.
The James Webb Space Telescope last year Gj 9827 dwhich is about twice as much larger than the earth and has an atmosphere composed almost entirely of water vapor. This was the first planet identified with such characteristics, which opened a new aspect of research related to the search for extraterrestrial life.
Known as “vapor worlds”, these planets are smaller than Neptune – also called subneptune – and larger than the earth. The proximity to their stars, however, makes them too hot to keep liquid water on the surface, causing their atmospheres to be dominated by water vapor.
Scientists point out that these vapor worlds are unlikely to house life. However, more detailed analyzes of its characteristics can be crucial to the Search of Habitable Environments In addition to the solar system, especially from the understanding of ocean planets.
New model to understand them
Given the growing interest in steam -wrapped planets, university astronomers of California in Santa Cruz developed a theoretical model capable of more accurately analyzing these extrasol stars.
According to scientists, the goal is to determine both the composition and the origin of these worlds, considering water forms in exotic states that are difficult to replicate on Earth.
“When we understand how the most commonly observed planets in the universe form, we can change our focus to less common exoplanets that could really be habitable,” Artem Aguichine, team leader and researcher at the University of California, said in a statement.
The model has as its main focus the study of thick steam atmospheres and supercritical water layers of subneptune planets, according to the study at The Astrophysical Journal. To this end, it considers not only the behavior of vapor water, but also under extreme conditions, such as supercritical or superior ice – exotic states where water can be found in steam worlds.
“The interiors of the planets are ‘NATURAL LABORATORIES to study conditions difficult to reproduce in a laboratory on Earth. What we have learned can have unforeseen applications. Aquatic worlds are especially exotic in this regard. In the future, we can find that a subset of these worlds represents new niches for life in the galaxy, ”said Natalie Batalha, professor at the University of California and co -author of the investigation.
Astronomers also pointed out that the model is not only concentrated on static records, but seeks to understand the evolution of subneptunes over millions of years. The investigators said the model will soon be tested with observations from James Webb and also with the Platory Transits and Oscillas of Stars (ESA) Telescope (Planetary Transits and Oscillas of Stars).
The ESA observation instrument, scheduled for 2026, its main objective is to detect land -like planets located in the habitable zone of its stars – regions where water can remain in a liquid state, without freezing or evaporating completely.
“Plato can tell us how accurate our models are and in what direction we need to refine them. Our models are in practice to make predictions for telescopes and help shape the next steps in the search for life off earth,” added Aguichine.
