First Atmosphere Found on Rocky Planet in Habitable Zone

Astronomers have made a major discovery: the first confirmed atmosphere around a rocky planet located in the habitable zone of another star. The planet, named LHS 1140 b, is about 48 light-years from Earth. Scientists detected its atmosphere by observing helium gas slowly escaping from the planet into space. This finding is significant because LHS 1140 b is a rocky world, similar in composition to Earth, and it orbits within the habitable zone of its star. The habitable zone is the region where conditions might allow liquid water to exist on a planet's surface. Having an atmosphere is a key ingredient for a planet to potentially support life. The planet may have held onto its atmosphere for billions of years, which suggests it could be a promising target for future studies. Researchers hope to learn more about its atmosphere and whether it could be suitable for life. While LHS 1140 b is not a second Earth, its discovery marks an important step in the search for habitable worlds. Scientists will continue to study it using powerful telescopes to understand its atmosphere and surface conditions. This discovery was made using data from the Hubble Space Telescope and other observatories. The findings were published in a recent scientific journal.