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The hunt for exoplanets has been in the process of becoming a leader in the world of telescope. Astronomers are finding new planets at a faster rate than ever before, but there is a big difference between knowing these alien worlds and knowing what conditions might be like on their surfaces.
In a new study published in NatureNASA 's Spitzer Space Telescope reveals a rare glimpse at the surface of one particular exoplanet. The world, called LHS 3844b, resides less than 50 light-years from Earth and is slightly larger than our planet. Its surface, however, is a lot less than that of Earth.
The planet was first discovered in 2018 by TESS, NASA's Transitioning Exoplanet Satellite Survey, which spotted the dip in its location and revealed the presence of the planet orbiting it. It's about 1.3 times a wide as Earth, and at a distance of just 48.6 light-years from Earth, it was wide enough that it was able to spot the planet itself.
Based on it's proximity to its host star, the search engine is one of the stars. That star-facing side is incredibly hot, with temperatures of over 1,400 degrees Fahrenheit, while its dark side is much cooler.
Based on what is Earth's moon, Earth's moon and Mercury. Because the planet's two sides are so dramatically different in terms of temperature, the researchers believe the planet lacks an atmosphere, since it would have spread more evenly across the planet if an atmosphere was present.
There is no chance that life exists on LHS 3844b today. The planet orbits an M dwarf class star, and researchers are curious how prevalent planets with atmospheres might be around such stars. Despite the status of LHS 3844b, the researchers are hopeful that more habitable planets can be found orbiting M dwarfs in the near future.
Image Source: NASA / JPL-Caltech / R. Hurt (IPAC)
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