Strange Super-Earth Planet Has ‘Plasma’ Water Atmosphere
A nearby alien planet six times the size of the Earth is covered with a water-rich atmosphere that includes a strange “plasma form” of water, scientists say.
Image: An artist’s rendition of Gliese 1214 b traveling in front of its star, shown in blue light. Credit: NAO
Astronomers have determined that the atmosphere of super-Earth Gliese 1214 b is likely water-rich. However, this exoplanet is no Earth twin. The high temperature and density of the planet give it an atmosphere that differs dramatically from Earth.
"As the temperature and pressure are so high, water is not in a usual form (vapor, liquid, or solid), but in an ionic or plasma form at the bottom the atmosphere — namely the interior — of Gliese 1214 b," principle investigator Norio Narita of the National Astronomical Observatory of Japan told SPACE.com by email.
Question: how is this a super-Earth if its atmosphere is either so hot or so dense, it contains plasma water? I was under the impression that a super-Earth had to be, well, Earth like; not an extremely inhospitable gas giant like this appears to be.
Still, cool discovery.
That’s a good question because a lot of people seem to get a bit confused with the classification of super-Earths. When astronomers tag a planet as ‘super-Earth’ they don’t necessarily mean it’s as hospitable or habitable as Earth is. I’m under the impression that they decided to call this one a super-Earth on the grounds that it has water, maybe not in the form Earth has it but still a noticeable similarity evident enough to call it a super-Earth. But the take-home thing about this is; super-Earth doesn’t mean hospitable/habitable like Earth.