Unraveling the Mystery of "Hell Planet" 55 Cancri e's Strange Signals
Astronomers have been puzzled by inconsistent signals of an atmosphere around the super-Earth planet 55 Cancri e. Dr. Kevin Heng proposes that chambers of gas beneath the planet's surface occasionally vent, creating a temporary atmosphere. The high temperatures and exposure to a stellar wind allow the gases to escape the planet's gravity, explaining the varied observations. This theory can be tested by observing the planet at optical wavelengths simultaneously with the James Webb Space Telescope's infrared observations. 55 Cancri e, the first super-Earth discovered, has a mass eight times that of Earth and is believed to be tidally locked with extreme temperatures on both sides.