Exoplanets: Search for atmospheres in red dwarf stars is not hopeless after all
No type of star is as common in the cosmos as red dwarfs, but the conditions there are harsh for exoplanets. Nevertheless, some could probably hold atmospheres.
Artist's impression of the exoplanets around TRAPPIST-1: The fifth could possibly hold an Atmosphere after all.
(Image: NASA/JPL-Caltech)
Contrary to recent fears, rocky planets around red dwarf stars could, under certain conditions, retain an atmosphere more frequently and thus provide the right conditions for life to develop. This is the conclusion reached by a research team that has carried out simulations based on astronomical data. These have shown that rocky planets could still be able to form a stable atmosphere despite the immense radiation from the most common class of stars in the universe, summarizes the University of Washington. As soon as our telescopes are powerful enough, it could therefore be worth looking for an atmosphere on exoplanets such as the as yet unexplored outer ones in the particularly exciting TRAPPIST-1 system.
Exciting research objects almost within reach
The research team reminds us that red dwarf stars are by far the most common stars in the universe and that we have also found exoplanets around them. However, because the stars are comparatively small, the so-called habitable zone is particularly close to these celestial bodies. This is the name given to the zone in which exoplanets could hold liquid water on their surface – a basic prerequisite for Earth-like life. At the same time, however, these stars emit such immense amounts of hostile radiation that it was previously assumed that any atmospheres that might form would be quickly removed. There would then be no time for life to develop. The question of whether rocky planets could still form stable gas envelopes under these circumstances is therefore one of the most exciting in exoplanet research, says study leader Joshua Krissansen-Totton.
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In the simulations that have now been carried out, the research team has modeled the formation history and development of rocky planets in this environment, taking into account the data collected. This has shown that exoplanets that are somewhat further away from the stars could well hold enough gases. This could already apply to those exoplanets around TRAPPIST-1 that we cannot study with the James Webb space telescope. This could already be possible with the Extremely Large Telescope, which will soon be available, the team writes. Overall, there are a small number of exoplanets that could be considered for a possible atmosphere in view of the new research. In view of the great interest in the topic, it is good that we do not have to wait for the next generation of telescopes. The work is presented in Nature Communications.
(mho)
