What the conditions on exoplanet K2-12 (b) say for the possibility of life.
Pictured above: Spectra of K2-18 b, obtained with Webb’s NIRISS. Image credits: NASA, ESA, CSA, Ralf Crawford (STScI), Joseph Olmsted (STScI)
NASA’s biggest telescope, the James Webb Space Telescope, has made a brand new discovery. It discovered K2-18b–a planet discovered in 2015 during NASA’s K2 mission–might have the environmental conditions to support life.
At almost 8.6 times the size of Earth and orbiting the cool dwarf star K2-18 in the constellation Leo, the exoplanet is 120 light-years away from Earth. Its location makes life possible on this planet; it is located in the star’s habitable zone, which is the area with optimal temperature for survival. Most importantly though, the telescope detected the presence of carbon-bearing molecules including methane and carbon dioxide. How? ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION! Using the wavelength of light emitted from the planet, scientists were able to determine the abundance of methane and carbon-dioxide as well as the shortage of ammonia.
This information points towards the fact that K2-18 b could be a Hycean exoplanet, or a planet with a water-covered surface and hydrogen-rich atmosphere.
And with water, comes life…