NASA discovers “Super Earth” with Possibility of Water

NASA has discovered the planet TOI-1846 b. It is almost twice the size of Earth and four times more massive. The planet is emitting a repeating signal. The planet orbits a red dwarf star every four days. It lies 154 light-years away from Earth. 

Signal caught by TESS

It orbits a small, cool red dwarf star closely. The orbit is tight, taking only about four days to complete a revolution. This tight orbit causes a strange, repeated dimming of the star’s light. This signal first caught the attention of scientists. NASA’s TESS space telescope observed a dimming pattern in March of each year.

NASA stated that TOI-1846 b orbits much closer to its star. Its orbit is closer than Mercury’s orbit to the Sun in our own solar system. The host star is about 40% the size and mass of the Sun. Planets must orbit close to red dwarfs to receive heat because these stars are smaller and dimmer. This proximity also makes it easier for telescopes to detect the planets when they pass in front of the star.

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Categorised in the rare ‘Radius Gap’

NASA noted that both space-based and ground-based telescopes have identified the planet. It belongs to a rare category known as the “radius gap”. This group falls between small rocky planets like Earth and larger gas-rich planets like Neptune. Scientists think the planet may have a layer of thick ice under a thin atmosphere. Alternatively, it might have a shallow ocean.

Abderahmane Soubkiou and his team at the Oukaimeden Observatory in Morocco confirmed the planet’s discovery. They achieved this by working with observers on four continents.

“We have validated TOI‑1846b using TESS and multicolor ground‑based photometric data, high‑resolution imaging, and spectroscopic observations.”

Possibility of Water

Despite an estimated surface temperature of 600°F or 300°C, researchers say the planet could contain water. The newly discovered planet is likely tidally locked. This means that one side always faces its star while the other remains in darkness. This temperature contrast could allow water to persist in colder regions, depending on how heat moves through the atmosphere.

A Future Target for Webb Telescope

NASA scientists hope to use the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) to study the planet’s atmosphere using infrared technology. The goal is to search for signs of water vapor, methane, carbon dioxide, or other gases.

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