All articles tagged with #atmospheric loss
NASA's MAVEN spacecraft has provided direct evidence that solar winds and sputtering have played a crucial role in stripping Mars of its atmosphere, especially during periods of intense solar activity, leading to the loss of water and habitability, and offering insights into planetary evolution and the potential for life beyond Earth.
Scientists have observed atmospheric sputtering on Mars for the first time, providing crucial evidence of how the planet lost its atmosphere and water over time, especially during periods of higher solar activity, with data from NASA's MAVEN spacecraft supporting these findings.
Scientists have observed clear evidence of atmospheric sputtering on Mars, a process where solar wind particles erode the planet's atmosphere, using data from NASA's MAVEN spacecraft. This discovery helps explain how Mars lost much of its atmosphere and water over time, especially during the early, more active solar period. The findings suggest sputtering is a significant factor in atmospheric loss both today and in Mars' past, with solar storms amplifying the effect.
Data from NASA's Kepler Space Telescope suggests that the absence of exoplanets between 1.5 and two times the size of Earth may be due to core-powered mass loss. Scientists have found evidence that the cores of sub-Neptune exoplanets push away their atmospheres from the inside out, causing the exoplanets to shrink. This phenomenon occurs when radiation emitted by the planet's hot core interacts with the atmosphere, causing it to fade away slowly. The study used data from the Kepler Space Telescope's extended mission, K2, and found that core-powered mass loss is the leading explanation for atmospheric loss in sub-Neptunes. Further research is needed to fully understand this process.
Researchers using data from the Kepler Space Telescope have discovered that some exoplanets are shrinking due to the loss of their atmospheres, likely caused by radiation from their cores. This finding helps explain the observed size gap in exoplanets and suggests a significant atmospheric loss process different from previously theorized photoevaporation. The study provides evidence supporting the theory of core-powered mass loss, where radiation emitted from a planet's hot core pushes the atmosphere away over time. The research also highlights the ongoing mystery of the missing exoplanets between super-Earths and sub-Neptunes and the need for further investigation.
Astronomers have observed the Neptune-sized planet AU Microscopii b losing its atmosphere in a highly variable and unpredictable manner due to the intense flaring activity of its young red dwarf star. The planet's hydrogen atmosphere is being torn away in fits and starts, with periods of significant loss followed by minimal loss. This unusual behavior raises questions about the survivability and habitability of planets close to red dwarfs. Further observations are needed to understand the mechanisms behind this atmospheric loss and its implications for exoplanet compositions and potential habitability.
Astronomers have observed the Neptune-sized planet AU Microscopii b losing its atmosphere in a highly variable and unpredictable manner due to the intense flaring activity of its young red dwarf star. The planet's hydrogen atmosphere is being torn away in fits and starts, with periods of significant loss followed by minimal loss. This unusual behavior raises questions about the survivability and habitability of planets close to red dwarfs. Further observations are needed to understand the mechanisms behind this atmospheric loss and its implications for exoplanet compositions and habitability.
The Hubble Space Telescope has observed a young planet orbiting a red dwarf star, AU Microscopii, experiencing atmospheric loss due to its close proximity to the star. The planet's hydrogen atmosphere is evaporating, causing it to puff off the planet. The variability in atmospheric escape between orbits surprised astronomers, challenging their predictions. The observations provide insights into planetary evolution and the effects of extreme stellar wind environments. Scientists aim to understand which types of planets can survive such conditions and their potential for habitability.