Researchers using NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope have detected atmospheric gases surrounding 55 Cancri e, a hot rocky exoplanet 41 light-years from Earth.
- This is the best evidence to date for the existence of any rocky planet atmosphere outside our solar system.
- 55 Cancri e also known as Janssen, is one of five known planets orbiting the Sun-like star 55 Cancri, in the constellation Cancer.
- With a diameter nearly twice that of Earth and density slightly greater, the planet is classified as a super-Earth: larger than Earth, smaller than Neptune, and likely similar in composition to the rocky planets in our solar system.
- 55 Cancri e is about 8.8 times more massive than Earth.
- The planet is probably tidally locked, meaning it perpetually has the same side facing its star, much like the moon does toward Earth.
- An exoplanet is any planet beyond our solar system. Most orbit other stars.
