atmospheres

James Webb Space Telescope will help assess atmospheres of strange ‘sub-Neptunes’

by

The sharp mirrors of the James Webb Space Telescope will finally be able to probe into the atmospheres of sub-Neptunes, which are mysterious planets that aren’t found anywhere near Earth. The observatory is in the middle of a commissioning period that will last until about June. But when it is ready, the observatory will seek out sub-Neptunes … Read more

Exoplanet evolution? Mini-Neptunes may shed their atmospheres and become super-Earths

by

New research suggests that stellar radiation is stripping away the “fluffy” atmospheres of exoplanets slightly smaller than Neptune, leaving behind their rocky cores and transforming them into worlds more closely resembling Earth.  In the 1990s, astronomers confirmed the existence of planets outside the solar system. Known as exoplanets, they are one of the most fascinating … Read more