Astronomers have made a groundbreaking discovery about an exoplanet called Enaiposha, which orbits a red dwarf star 47 light-years away from the Sun. Initially thought to be a mini-Neptune, researchers now believe it’s more like a super-Venus due to its thick atmosphere composed of hydrogen, helium, water, methane, and carbon dioxide.
Using data from the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST), scientists analyzed faint traces of molecules at key parts of the spectrum. This finding challenges our understanding of sub-Neptune planets, which are common in the Milky Way but absent from the solar system.
Enaiposha’s atmosphere is unlike other sub-Neptunes due to its thick haze and aerosols, making it difficult to analyze. The planet’s upper layers appear to be blanketed by these particles, blocking most views of its surface. This phenomenon is similar to Venus’ clouds, which make its surface hard to observe.
Recent measurements showed tiny dips in the spectrograph where certain gases absorb starlight. These signals hinted at a metal-rich atmosphere and water vapor present, but it’s the complex metals that are particularly interesting. Small signs of these metals emerged, indicating the presence of carbon dioxide and methane.
The study, led by astronomers Everett Schlawin and Kazumasa Ohno, suggests that Enaiposha may have concentrations of carbon dioxide similar to those found on Venus. Further research is needed to confirm this finding and understand the planet’s atmosphere, interior structure, and origins.
While Enaiposha is not a promising location for habitability due to its scorching temperatures, analyzing its atmosphere could provide valuable insights into interpreting atmospheres around other exoplanets in less extreme locations. The study has sparked interest in how these methods might apply to places that could harbor life and how thick atmospheres evolve over time.
Source: https://www.earth.com/news/new-planet-named-enaiposha-is-unlike-anything-in-our-solar-system