Astronomers discovered a new exoplanet GJ 1214 b, also known as Enaiposha, which sits 47 light-years from our planet. This detection creates new challenges that question the way scientists categorize planetary atmospheres. An exoplanet is a planet that orbits a star outside the solar system.
Classification shift
Scientific data reclassified Enaiposha into the “super-Venus” category because its atmospheric structure required this designation. NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) observations reveal Enaiposha possesses a dense atmosphere which contains hydrogen as well as helium components along with water vapor together with methane and carbon dioxide. This combination is similar to Venus but occurs at a larger scale, making Enaiposha the first planet of this classification.
Discovery background
The astronomers at the Fred Lawrence Whipple Observatory first detected Enaiposha in December 2009 through the effort of David Charbonneau’s team. The examining teams first proposed Enaiposha would be a watery world before evidences pointed to its probable dense gaseous mantle instead of extensive water coverage.
Read more: NASA launches SPHEREx to unveil secrets of the universe
Atmospheric insights
JWST observations during Enaiposha’s transit across its host star, Orkaria, revealed signs of carbon dioxide in concentrations comparable to those found on Venus. This detection required careful statistical analysis, as the atmosphere appears to be dominated by metals at lower altitudes, with a haze of aerosols complicating deeper analysis.
Future research
Further observations using precise methods will be conducted to determine if Enaiposha possesses an atmosphere rich in metals. The continuation of this research serves two goals which include improving our knowledge of sub-Neptune evolution and discovering other systems that contain similar planets.
The discovery of Enaiposha enables scientists to understand exoplanets differently while questioning how disparate planetary atmospheres occur in space. Scientists have yet to discover all critical information about how planets form within other solar systems through advanced research.
