Witness the captivating atmosphere of this distant exoplanet in full motion. Referred to as a “steam world” by astronomer Ryan MacDonald from the University of Michigan, GJ 9827d was first spotted in 2017 encircling a star located approximately 100 light-years away from our planet. With dimensions twice that of Earth and a mass three times greater, it belongs to the category of sub-Neptunes, which are prevalent throughout the galaxy but absent in our own solar system.
However, unraveling the composition of this celestial body requires more than just its size and weight. By studying the starlight passing through its atmosphere during transits across its host star, astronomers can gain valuable insights into its chemical makeup (SN: 6/7/24).
Date: 2024-10-22 Time: 12:00:00
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