Scientists say they have detected an atmosphere around an Earth-like planet for the first time. The study published in the Astronomical Journal said, the observations suggest that the “super-Earth” is cloaked in a thick layer of gases that are either water or methane or a mixture of both.
Scientists have studied a world known as GJ 1132b, which is 1.4 times the size of earth and lies 39 light years away. The study said discovering an atmosphere, and characterising it, is an important step forward in the hunt for life beyond our Solar System.
But it is highly unlikely that this world is habitable, as it has a surface temperature of 370 Celcius, said the study.Dr John Southworth, the lead researcher from Keele University, said that the hottest temperature that life has been able to survive on Earth is 120 Celsius and that’s far cooler than this planet.”
The discovery of planet GJ 1132b was first announced in 2015. It lies in the Vela constellation in the southern hemisphere. While it is a similar size to Earth, the star it orbits is much smaller, cooler and dimmer than our Sun.
