Researchers Confirm Atmosphere on LHS 1140b 49 Light-Years Away, a Rocky Planet in the Habitable Zone
Updated
Updated · The Guardian · Jul 16
Researchers Confirm Atmosphere on LHS 1140b 49 Light-Years Away, a Rocky Planet in the Habitable Zone
3 articles · Updated · The Guardian · Jul 16
Summary
LHS 1140b, a rocky exoplanet 49 light-years away, is the first habitable-zone rocky world beyond the solar system with an observationally confirmed atmosphere, researchers reported in Science.
2024 observations from Chile’s Magellan Clay telescope detected helium escaping from the planet, giving scientists the first direct identification of an atmospheric species on any rocky exoplanet.
The team said repeated checks ruled out false positives, including contamination from Earth’s atmosphere, even though helium was not seen again in 2025 and no atmosphere was found around neighboring rocky planet LHS 1140c.
At 5.6 times Earth’s mass and 70% larger in radius, LHS 1140b appears rocky and cool enough for liquid water, though it is tidally locked and may have far more water than Earth.
Astronomers said the finding makes LHS 1140b a key target for habitability studies around red dwarfs, while noting the detected gas comes from the upper atmosphere and does not directly indicate life.
Is this 'super-Earth' a living ocean world, or just a barren rock with a fleeting, disappearing atmosphere?
As red dwarf planets are found with and without atmospheres, is our galaxy filled with life or cosmic graveyards?
Could a red dwarf's violent flares, once thought deadly, actually be the key to sparking life on its planets?
LHS 1140 b Emerges as Top Target in the Search for Life: JWST Detects Signs of a Secondary, Nitrogen-Rich Atmosphere
Overview
In late 2023, the James Webb Space Telescope made a breakthrough by detecting the first hints of an atmosphere—possibly 'air'—around the exoplanet LHS 1140 b. This finding suggests that LHS 1140 b is not a mini-Neptune, but instead could be a rocky, Earth-like world with a temperate atmosphere. Its location in the 'Goldilocks Zone' means it may have liquid water, making it a strong candidate in the search for life beyond Earth. This discovery highlights JWST's unique ability to study distant exoplanet atmospheres and advances our understanding of potentially habitable worlds.