Artistic representation of the surface of TOI-1452 b, which may be a planet entirely covered by liquid water.
(Photo:Benoit Gougeon/Universite de Montreal)
Science-fiction writers have long dreamed of waterworldsplanets covered in endless ocean.
Scientists, too, have postulated that these planets exist.
Artistic representation of the surface of TOI-1452 b, which may be a planet entirely covered by liquid water. (Photo:Benoit Gougeon/Université de Montréal)
Finding and verifying candidates, however, is elusive.
The nearby exoplanet named TOI-1452 b may be the most promising of possibilities discovered.
TOI-1452 bis an exoplanet about 100 light-years from Earth, which is relatively quite close to our planet.
Artistic rendition of the exoplanet TOI-1452 b. (Photo:Benoit Gougeon/Université de Montréal)
It was discovered by NASA’sTransiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite(TESS).
The system watches stars and detects tiny blips in their shining lights.
These blips are indicative of exoplanets passing in between the light source and the satellite.
The Observatoire du Mont-Mégantic located in Quebec with its telescope. (Photo:Émir Chouchane/Université de Montréal)
TOI-1452 b was detected in a short 11-day orbit around two small, dim red dwarfs.
TOI-1452 b is 4.82 times Earth’s mass.
It seems 30% of the planet may, in fact, be water.
For perspective, water accounts for only one percent of Earth’s mass.
The JWST will be able to gaze into the atmosphere of TOI-1452 b.
As soon as we can, we will book time on Webb to observe this strange and wonderful world.
Scientists have discovered an exoplanet which may be covered in a thick layer of ocean.
Artistic rendition of the exoplanet TOI-1452 b.
The Observatoire du Mont-Megantic located in Quebec with its telescope.
