They discover an exoplanet with volcanic activity thanks to NASA data: it is 90 light years from Earth

An exoplanet the size of Earth was discovered thanks to NASA data: its name it is LP 791-18 d and stands out for its volcanic activity.

It’s found 90 light years of our planet. Obviously, it does not support life.

Merrin Peterson, of the Trottier Institute for Exoplanet Research (iREx), made the finding, using data from NASA’s Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS) and the Spitzer Space Telescope, among other observatories.

The results of Peterson’s research were published in the scientific journal Nature.

The exoplanet LP 791-18 d orbits a small red dwarf star in the southern constellation of Crater, according to NASA. Tidal Locked, one side constantly looks at its star, with the other without ever receiving light.

The exoplanet’s volcanic activity could provide it with an atmosphere

According to the researchers, it is possible that the volcanic activity of LP 791-18 d can provide you with an atmosphere.

Björn Benneke, co-author of the study, said: “The dayside would probably be too hot for liquid water to exist on the surface. But the amount of volcanic activity that we suspect occurs across the planet could sustain an atmosphere, which could allow water to condense on the night side.”

Benneke is Professor of Astronomy in iREx.

Another of the authors of the research is Jessie Christiansen, scientist at NASA’s Exoplanet Science Institute.

“A big question in astrobiology, the field that broadly studies the origins of life on Earth and beyond, is whether tectonic or volcanic activity is necessary for life.” Christiansen stated.

“In addition to potentially providing an atmosphere, these processes could stir up materials that would otherwise sink and become trapped in the crust, including those that we think are important to life, like carbon.”