Atmosphere detected on Earth-like planet in habitable zone

Astronomers have detected an atmosphere on a rocky, Earth-sized planet located in the habitable zone of a star 41 light-years away. This marks the first time such an atmosphere has been confirmed on a planet of this size and composition outside our solar system.

The planet, named GJ 1132b, orbits a red dwarf star in the constellation Vela. It is about 1.4 times the size of Earth and receives roughly the same amount of stellar radiation as Earth does from the Sun, placing it within the habitable zone where liquid water could exist on its surface.

The discovery is significant because it demonstrates that Earth-like planets can retain atmospheres, a key factor for potential habitability. The atmosphere was detected using the Hubble Space Telescope, which observed the planet as it passed in front of its star. By analyzing the starlight filtered through the planet's atmosphere, scientists identified the presence of gases, likely including hydrogen and helium, or possibly water vapor.

According to the study published in the Astronomical Journal, the planet's atmosphere is likely thick and rich in hydrogen, but it may also contain traces of water. The researchers caution that the planet's close orbit—it completes a full orbit in just 1.6 days—could mean it is tidally locked, with one side always facing its star. This could create extreme temperature differences and affect its habitability.

Future observations with the James Webb Space Telescope, set to launch in 2021, will allow scientists to study the atmosphere in greater detail, searching for molecules like oxygen and methane that could indicate biological activity. The discovery opens a new chapter in the search for life beyond Earth, proving that rocky planets in habitable zones can indeed have atmospheres worth studying.