NASA discovers 17 exoplanets with habitable oceans and geysers

A study recently published by NASA brings new information About the possibilities of life beyond our Solar System. In the research, 17 exoplanets were identified that could host liquid water oceans, which are a necessary element for the existence of life, despite being under thick layers of ice.

However, this water can eventually break through this outer shell and gush onto the surfaces of the planets in the form of geysers. Therefore, for the first time in history, the team also investigated: “Potential for tidally-induced cryovolcanism and exosphere formation on these worlds”. Two exoplanets have been detected close enough for these explosion signatures to be observed using ground-based telescopes.

Typically, such research is conducted in the so-called “habitable zone” of stars, that is, the distance where temperatures allow water to remain liquid on the surface. The new approach, although remote and cold, suggests:, An exoplanet could have an ocean beneath its ice sheet as long as it has sufficient internal heating.

Ocean planets and their variable climates

According to the study, such explosive cryovolcanic activity in the form of geyser-like plumes has been detected in our Solar System on the moons of Saturn and Jupiter, Enceladus and Europa, respectively. Even though it’s frozen Both natural moons have subsurface oceans and are heated by the tidal gravitational pull of their host planets and neighboring moons..

Similarly, study lead author Lynnae Quick of NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center explains: “Our analysis predicts that these 17 worlds could have ice-covered surfaces but receive sufficient internal heating due to the decay of radioactive elements and the forces of their host stars to create interior oceans.” .

Observation of exoplanets from Earth

According to Quick, “this is likely because telescopes are more likely to detect geological activity on these planets, as our models predict that oceans may be found at LHS 1140 b relatively close to the surfaces of Proxima Centauri, and that the rate of geyser activity may exceed that of Europa by hundreds to thousands of times.”

Because of the distance, Observations of this activity occur when the exoplanet passes in front of its star. At this time, water vapor from geysers can momentarily weaken some colors of starlight.

Some elements and compounds in water can even absorb this light with a specific “signature” that can reveal a composition conducive to life. On planets like Proxima Centauri b that, from our perspective, are not passing between their stars, cryovolcanic activity can still be detected by the glow of icy particles.

Stay up to date with the latest astronomical discoveries at TecMundo. If you want, take the opportunity to learn which exoplanets should be considered Earth-like.