Astronomers have discovered a new exoplanet, GJ 1214 b, also known as Enaiposha, which orbits 47 light-years from Earth. This detection challenges current understanding of planetary atmospheres and has led to the reclassification of Enaiposha into the “super-Venus” category.
The James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) observations revealed a dense atmosphere on GJ 1214 b, composed of hydrogen, helium, water vapor, methane, and carbon dioxide. This combination is similar to Venus’ atmosphere but occurs at a larger scale, making Enaiposha the first planet of its kind.
Initially detected in 2009 by David Charbonneau’s team, astronomers initially believed GJ 1214 b would be a watery world. However, subsequent observations revealed a probable dense gaseous mantle instead. JWST data during transit across its host star showed carbon dioxide concentrations comparable to those found on Venus.
Future research will focus on determining if GJ 1214 b’s atmosphere is rich in metals. This study aims to improve our knowledge of sub-Neptune evolution and discover other systems with similar planets. The discovery of Enaiposha expands our understanding of exoplanets and highlights the need for further research into planetary formation.
Source: https://economymiddleeast.com/news/enaiposha-discovery-of-new-exoplanet-challenges-planetary-classifications