A Planet Covered in Boiling Water: The Secrets of TOI-270 d Revealed
Outside our solar system, about 70 light-years away, there is a planet that may be entirely covered in water. However, the ocean here may be far different from the oceans we know on Earth. Astronomers from the University of Cambridge have used data from the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) to reveal the secrets of this mysterious planet, with the results published in the journal Astronomy & Astrophysics.
Their focus is on the TOI-270 system, a system composed of a red dwarf star and three exoplanets. They specifically looked at TOI-270 d, a planet described as a mini-Neptune because it is composed of gas. Research suggests the planet may be a “Neptunian world” – a planet with a large ocean and a hydrogen-rich atmosphere. Moreover, scientists have calculated that its surface temperature may be as high as 100 degrees Celsius, equivalent to the temperature of boiling water.
However, the interpretation of these findings is not without controversy. Other scientists have differing opinions on the nature of the planet, suggesting that it may actually have a rocky surface covered by a very dense atmosphere composed of superheated steam and hydrogen. “In our opinion, the temperature here is too high to keep water liquid,” said Bjorn, a professor of astrophysics at the University of Montreal.
Regardless of the differing viewpoints, the ability to capture chemical signatures from distant planets beyond Earth is a groundbreaking achievement. The James Webb Telescope has provided incredible insights into the nature of extrasolar planets, allowing astronomers to analyze the conditions on a planet’s surface and the potential for life.
While further research and observation are needed to determine whether TOI-270 d is truly a “Neptune World,” this discovery opens up new possibilities for finding planets suitable for life beyond Earth. Who knows, perhaps among the thousands of exoplanets we have discovered, we may find another habitable world similar to our own.
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