Minimal stylized text logo reading "Zendar Universe" in bold font

Ocean Planet Discovery: Super-Earth TOI-1452 b Could Be a 'Water World' in the Habitable Zone

A sleek, silver futuristic starship banks sharply as it soars at high speed through deep space. In the background, a vast and vibrant cosmic nebula glows with magnificent swirls of pink, purple, orange, and deep blue, dotted with distant stars. The advanced spacecraft's metallic hull reflects the brilliant light of the nebula, highlighting its aerodynamic design on a journey of cosmic exploration.

May 21, 2024

Astronomers have discovered TOI-1452 b, a potential "water world" Super-Earth located in its star's habitable zone, offering a prime target for future study.

Astronomers have pinpointed a fascinating new exoplanet that could be a 'water world,' a world completely covered by a deep, global ocean. The planet, named TOI-1452 b, is a Super-Earth located just 100 light-years away in the Draco constellation. An international team of researchers, led by the University of Montreal, used data from NASA's Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS) to make this groundbreaking discovery, which places the planet squarely in its star's habitable zone—the region where liquid water could exist.

What Makes TOI-1452 b So Special?

TOI-1452 b is roughly 70% larger than Earth and nearly five times as massive. While its size is impressive, its density is the most intriguing aspect. The planet's density appears to be significantly lower than what would be expected for a primarily rocky planet, suggesting that a substantial fraction of its mass—perhaps as much as 30%—is made up of water. For comparison, water makes up less than 1% of Earth's mass. This composition points to a world unlike any in our solar system.

  1. Type: Super-Earth Exoplanet, a class of planets more massive than Earth but lighter than ice giants.
  2. Location: A relatively close 100 light-years away, making it a prime candidate for atmospheric study.
  3. Potential Composition: High water content suggests a deep, global ocean.
  4. Habitability: Orbits within its star's 'habitable zone,' where surface temperatures could support liquid water.

TOI-1452 b is one of the best candidates for an ocean planet that we have found to date. Its radius and mass suggest a much lower density than what one would expect for a planet that is basically made up of metal and rock, like Earth.

- Charles Cadieux, Lead Author and Ph.D. Student

The next crucial step is to observe TOI-1452 b with the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST). Its powerful instruments can analyze the planet's atmosphere as it transits its star, searching for water vapor and other molecules. These observations will be key to confirming whether this Super-Earth is truly the 'water world' scientists believe it to be, moving us one step closer to understanding the diversity of planets in our galaxy.

Previous Update

Universe's Brightest Beacon: Record-Breaking Quasar Feasts on a Sun a Day

Next Update

JWST Unveils Cosmic Titans: Earliest, Most Massive Galaxies Ever Seen

Ocean Planet Discovery: Super-Earth TOI-1452 b Could Be a 'Water World' in the Habitable Zone - FAQs

A Super-Earth is an exoplanet with a mass higher than Earth's but substantially below that of the solar system's ice giants, Uranus and Neptune.

Its size and mass suggest a density lower than expected for a rocky planet, indicating that a large portion of its mass is likely made of lighter materials, like water.

The habitable zone is the orbital region around a star where conditions are right for liquid water to exist on a planet's surface, a key ingredient for life as we know it.

Yes, the JWST is a perfect tool for this. It can analyze the planet's atmosphere for water vapor and other biosignatures, helping to confirm its 'water world' status.