Scientists make use of several instruments to scan the cosmos looking for an exoplanet that could potentially be habitable. Usually, that search involves hunting for planets that feature the similar size, temperature, and mass as our planet. The planets also need to have an atmospheric composition similar to Earth.
However, scientists working on a new study believe they have discovered a new type of habitable planet known as “Hycean” planets. This type of planet is covered in a global ocean and features a hydrogen-abundant atmosphere. Researchers say Hycean planets are more observable than planets like ours.
New approach to find habitable planets
The new type of exoplanet could provide scientists with a completely new approach to hunt for potentially habitable worlds. So far, astronomers have identified multiple Hycean candidates, and all are both larger and warmer than our planet. However, these planets do have the characteristics to host large oceans that can support microbial life.
Hycean exoplanets can survive in a larger habitable zone in comparison to Earth-like planets. It means they might be able to support life despite being outside the Goldilocks zone required for planets like ours to foster life. A new study looked at a mini-Neptune world dubbed K2-18b and found the planet can potentially support life.
A little larger than Earth
The discovery of that planet intrigued astronomers and prompted an investigation into the full range of stellar properties providing conditions that could enable K2-18b-like planets to form. Astronomers found that Hycean worlds could be 2.6 times larger than Earth and atmospheric temperatures of nearly 200 degrees Celsius.
Recently, astronomers discovered a planet called L 98-59b, which has half the mass of Venus. The planet orbits the star L 98-59 and is situated just 35 light-years from our planet. It is a part of a system of four or five planets that are similar to the rocky planets of our solar system. The newly-discovered planet is the closest to its star and is also the smallest ever discovered using the radial velocity method. We might see scientists discovering more such exoplanets in the coming days.
