Methane gas discovered on an exoplanet

ArabiaWeather - The recent discovery of the James Webb Space Telescope aroused the interest of astronomers in the presence of methane gas in the atmosphere of the planet WASP-80b, which is located outside the solar system. This discovery is of interest to researchers due to methane's potential role as a sign of life in other universes.

The discovery was published in a new paper titled "Methane in the Atmosphere of the Warm Exoplanet WASP-80b" in the journal Nature. The paper was led by Taylor Bell, a postdoctoral researcher at the Bay Area Environmental Research Institute, according to Science Alert.

WASP-80b is a gas giant planet, with about half the mass of Jupiter. This planet orbits a star that is about 1.5 billion years old, and is about 162 light-years away from us. WASP-80b is the only planet discovered so far around this star.

Given its nature as a gas giant, the presence of life on WASP-80b is unlikely, and the source of methane on its surface is unlikely to be related to the concept of "olivine meandering" that refers to rocky planets. However, the source of methane on the planet remains a subject of research and interest.

This discovery makes it possible to compare the exoplanet with the methane-containing atmospheres of solar system planets, such as Uranus and Neptune. It contributes to providing better insights into understanding methane in future space objects.

WASP-80b is described as a "warm Jupiter", with a temperature of about 550 degrees Celsius, while Jupiter's temperature is estimated at about 112 degrees Celsius. This is an important milestone, especially given the scarcity of methane detections in exoplanetary atmospheres. In this context, each discovery plays a vital role in developing atmospheric theory and guiding future research.

The researchers note that WASP-80b's temperature places it in an "interesting transition regime," where the properties of CH4 and CO/CO2 in the planet's transport and emission spectra are expected to be explored, according to equilibrium chemistry models. The exoplanet comes so close to its star, the red dwarf, that it only needs three days to complete its orbit. Because it is so far from Earth and so close to its star, the powerful James Webb Space Telescope cannot see it directly. Instead, scientists use the James Webb Telescope to study the light emitted by the star and planet during transits and eclipses.

There have not been many detections of methane in exoplanetary atmospheres using telescopes like Hubble and Spitzer, which focus on infrared observations, although they are not as powerful as the James Webb Space Telescope.

This lack of discoveries has caused the development of theoretical explanations for how methane is depleted in the atmosphere. Since the James Webb Space Telescope detected methane, this raises an important question and suggests that the planet deserves intense study.

Methane arouses scientific interest due to its short duration in the planetary atmosphere. Methane cannot withstand starlight for long, at least in terrestrial atmospheres. It decomposes under the influence of light radiation and needs constant renewal to maintain its presence in the atmosphere.

If the rocky planet contains significant amounts of methane, the source must be massive, making a biogenic source likely. For example, biological activity on Earth produces huge amounts of methane.

Methane is common in the solar system, although it is not abundant. In terms of what scientists can say, it remains largely a matter of nonliving conditions and, in short, no evidence of life.

If scientists continue to discover methane in more exoplanet atmospheres, this could change the perception of methane as a biosignature.

Researchers point out that finding exoplanets with methane in their atmospheres also helps in understanding the solar system.

“NASA’s history includes sending spacecraft to the gas giants of our solar system to measure the amounts of methane and other molecules in their atmosphere,” the researchers wrote.

They added: "Now, by measuring the same gas in an exoplanet, we can begin to make a comparison and understand whether predictions from the solar system are consistent with what we see outside it."

The researchers also point out that measuring methane as well as water helps determine how and where planets formed.

The researchers point out that measuring the amount of methane and water in a planet could help determine the ratio of carbon atoms to oxygen atoms, which is expected to change depending on where and when planets formed in their system.

“This ratio is expected to change depending on where and when planets formed in their system,” they explain. Astronomers can use this data to determine whether a planet formed near its star or formed far away and then migrated inward.

"Our findings lead us to believe that we will be able to monitor other carbon-rich molecules, such as carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide, enabling us to paint a more comprehensive picture of conditions in this planet's atmosphere," the researchers explain.

While methane is of interest to everyone because of its connection to biology, this research shows us another side to methane. It can help understand how and where some planets formed and whether they migrated.

The James Webb Space Telescope is poised to play a major role in building scientists' knowledge of methane and the atmosphere.

The authors conclude: “One thing is clear: the journey of exploration using the James Webb Space Telescope is full of potential surprises.”

Source: alhurra