Newly found Planet K2-18 b, located 120 light-years from Earth in the constellation Leo, is 8.6 times the size of Earth. In a ground breaking discovery by Nasa’s James Webb Space Telescope this seems to be a Hycean exoplanet, a type of planet with a hydrogen-rich atmosphere and a water ocean-covered surface.
The discovery of carbon-bearing molecules including methane and carbon dioxide on K2-18 b has sparked interest among astronomers, as it supports the hypothesis of a water ocean underneath a hydrogen-rich atmosphere.
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The planet orbits the cool dwarf star K2-18 in the habitable zone.
These ‘sub-Neptunes’, which have sizes between those of Earth and Neptune, are unlike anything in our solar system and are poorly understood due to their unique nature.
According to NASA, “Traditionally, the search for life on exoplanets has focused primarily on smaller rocky planets, but the larger Hycean worlds are significantly more conducive to atmospheric observations.”
:: Picture :: Shows (an artist’s concept) what exoplanet K2-18 b could look like based on science data (as per www.nasa.gov).