The Webb Space Telescope May Solve the Mystery of the Exoplanet 55 Cancri e
Exoplanets are known to have a wide variety of appearances, but one in particular, 55 Cancri e, has caught the attention of scientists due to its strange transit signals. Now, with the launch of the Webb Space Telescope, researchers may finally be able to uncover the secrets of this hell-like world.
55 Cancri e, also known as a super-Earth, orbits the star 55 Cancri A and was discovered in 2004. It is located roughly 40 light years away from Earth and is about twice the size and eight times the mass of our planet. The exoplanet is incredibly close to its parent star, with a distance of just 2% the distance between Earth and the Sun. As a result, it completes an orbit in a mere 18 hours.
Previous observations using the Spitzer Space Telescope revealed that 55 Cancri e experiences extreme temperatures. The sunny side of the planet reaches scorching temperatures of 2,427°C, while the backside is still an unbearable 1,127°C. The surface is believed to be covered in magma and oceans of molten lava.
In addition to its hellish conditions, scientists have also detected peculiar transit signals emitted by 55 Cancri e. When the planet is behind its star, it becomes invisible to visible light observation. However, it emits strong visible light signals at other times, accompanied by varying levels of infrared light.
A new study suggests that this inconsistency may be due to the planet’s atmosphere constantly being lost and regenerated. Researchers propose that massive volcanic eruptions on 55 Cancri e periodically create an atmosphere. However, the extreme temperature of the planet causes the gas to be blown away by stellar radiation and winds, resulting in a temporary lack of atmosphere. During this phase, the star’s atmosphere emits only infrared light. Once the volcanoes erupt again and the atmosphere expands, visible light and all radiation from the surface become detectable.
This hypothesis can now be tested thanks to the Webb Space Telescope. By measuring the pressure and temperature of 55 Cancri e’s atmosphere, scientists hope to determine if it is indeed always present or if it comes and goes as theorized.
The Webb Space Telescope, launched last year, has already begun observing 55 Cancri e, among other exoplanets, in its first year of operation. Its advanced capabilities and technologies provide a unique opportunity to delve deeper into the mysteries of this super-Earth.
As scientists eagerly await the results, the Webb Space Telescope continues to unlock new scientific and technological knowledge, expanding our understanding of the universe beyond our own solar system.