Astronomers studying the TRAPPIST-1 system have discovered a crucial clue about its planets’ atmospheres. Three of the seven Earth-sized planets, including TRAPPIST-1 d, have shown no signs of an atmosphere or only extremely thin ones. This finding suggests that holding onto an atmosphere might be difficult for these planets due to their close proximity to their star.
Researchers used the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) to analyze the atmospheres of the three closest worlds to the star. The data indicates that TRAPPIST-1 d, located at the inner edge of the habitable zone, lacks water, methane, and carbon dioxide. While it is possible that this planet has an unusual atmosphere, scientists are currently unable to rule out a barren rock with no atmosphere.
In contrast, the four outer planets in the habitable zone might surprise astronomers with their ability to retain atmospheric components. Astronomers plan to study these planets further by observing them as they pass in front of their star and using JWST’s sensitive infrared instruments to detect any possible atmospheres.
The discovery highlights the challenges of detecting atmospheres on smaller, colder planets. However, researchers remain hopeful that future studies will reveal more about the TRAPPIST-1 system’s atmospheric properties.
Source: https://www.iflscience.com/another-earth-twin-canceled-promising-exoplanet-unlikely-to-have-atmosphere-says-nasa-80407