New Neptune-Sized Exoplanet Boasts H20 Atmosphere
John Timmer, AT
Scientists are announcing a rare look into the atmosphere of a distant exoplanet more than 400 light years away. The planet is roughly Neptune-sized and orbits close to its host star. And now we know its atmosphere contains significant amounts of water.Significant amounts, but not quite as much as we might expect, based on what we've seen in our own Solar System. And that suggests that most of the planet's atmosphere is the original hydrogen-helium mixture that it formed with.
Scientists are announcing a rare look into the atmosphere of a distant exoplanet more than 400 light years away. The planet is roughly Neptune-sized and orbits close to its host star. And now we know its atmosphere contains significant amounts of water.Significant amounts, but not quite as much as we might expect, based on what we've seen in our own Solar System. And that suggests that most of the planet's atmosphere is the original hydrogen-helium mixture that it formed with.