Use chemical methods to detect the universe?Yes, you didn't hear it wrong

[Illustration] Next to the earth is a sample model of the Asian Sea King Star with a flat atmosphere. The Asian Neptune is a planet smaller but larger than the earth. They are usually 1.73.5 times the diameter of the earth. A new study of NASA shows that astronomers can detect the ocean on the planet by analyzing the chemical composition of the atmosphere. (Source: NASA/ JPL-CALTECH, source: Earthsky)

Translator's Note: The source indicates the picture author, or the publisher of the work;

The earth we live in is the only planet with liquid water in the solar system. In the solar system, the ocean on the earth is unique. However, scientists believe that there may still be other marine worlds in other parts of the Milky Way. In late October 2021, NASA released a new study that scientists can find hidden oceans on distant planets by using chemical methods. The study shows that the planet covering the ocean on the surface is significantly different from the planet that does not exist in the ocean.

The new peer review papers were published on October 28th in "The Astrophysical Journal Letters" (APJL, 7.413 in 2020), which can also be obtained on the Arxiv website.

Translator's Note: It is mainly because the publishing cycle of mainstream academic journals is too long. A platform created in order to accelerate academic circulation and facilitates the communication of scholars. ARXIV is mainly existed as a communication platform before a paper. It does not belong to a formal publication channel.

Hidden outer ocean

This new study shows that astronomers can detect the ocean by analyzing the atmospheric chemical composition of the outer planet. Generally, this method may be suitable for planets, super earth, or Asian Neptune (the planets that are less than Neptune but more than the earth). This article focuses on planets with a diameter of 1.7-3.5 times the diameter of the earth. The telescope with a spectrometer can identify some planet's atmospheric chemical components, including the upcoming James Weber Space Telescope (JWST). They can distinguish the oxygen, carbon dioxide or methane gas such as the atmosphere of the planet, and the existence of these gases represents life.

This is very exciting, but such a chemical analysis can also reveal other information about these planets. It may guide astronomers to find the ocean and also affect its biological livability.

[Illustration] When we describe different types of exterior planets, what do we often use words such as "hot Jupiter", "warm sea king star", "super earth"? When studying the external planet, referring to the familiar planets in our own solar system, it will help research, so this definition method will be used. (Source: NASA, source: YouTube)

Is it too cold or too cold?

At least in some cases, space telescopes can help determine whether these external planet surfaces have liquid water. More specifically, by analyzing the chemicals in the atmosphere, scientists can estimate the surface temperature of the external planet, and then analyze whether the temperature is too high for liquid water

So which chemicals may indicate the ocean under the cloud? One discovery is carbon dioxide and nitrogen in the atmosphere, of which nitrogen molecules are composed of two nitrogen atoms. Their existence will prove that the atmosphere of the planet is colder and thinner, that is, more like the atmosphere on planets such as the earth. This will show that there is no thermal chemical balance (chemical balance) on this exoplanet.

In thermal chemical balance, the chemical properties of atmosphere have changed. This situation is more common in the Asian Sea King. At this time, the atmosphere of those planets is mainly composed of hydrogen. At this time, carbon and nitrogen exist in the form of methane and ammonia, and the atmosphere is obviously thicker.

In this case, like the atmosphere of our solar gases and the atmosphere on the ice superstar, a strong atmosphere will capture heat. When the temperature reaches 1430 (770 degrees Celsius), thermal chemical balance occurs. This is too hot, and the liquid water ocean cannot exist on this planet.

[Illustration] This study on the Ocean of the Star Planet was led by Renyu Hu, NASA Jet Prosperity Laboratory. (Source: JPL-Caltech, source: Researchgate)

Differences in ammonia qi content

There may be a certain substance in the atmosphere when there is another key indicator of the ocean: ammonia. Because ammonia is easy to dissolve in water, ammonia gas does not exist in the atmosphere of the planet with the ocean. At the same time, the level of pH (pH) of the ocean also affects the content of ammonia (if it exists).

In addition, the content of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere of marine planet should be more than carbon monoxide. If a planet's atmosphere lacks ammonia and has excessive carbon dioxide, this will be a strong evidence of the planet's ocean. As Renyu Hu, who led the NASA Jet Promotion Laboratory (JPL), who led this research::

"If we observe the characteristics of thermal chemical balance, we will be concluded that this planet is too hot and unable to live. On the contrary, if there is no features of thermal chemical balance on an exterior planet, and no gas is observed, no gas is observed. The atmospheric characteristics dissolved in the liquid ocean, then we will think that it has extremely high possibilities. "We have no direct observation evidence to show what the common physical characteristics of the Asian Sea King Star are. Many of them may have a large amount of hydrogen atmosphere, but many may still be "marine planets". I hope that in the near future, this article can stimulate more observations and get the answer to the question. ""

[Illustration] The artistic concept of the Asian King Star -type planet is covered with the ocean worldwide. (Source: Amanda Smith/ University of Cambridge, source: Earthsky)

Future outlook

NASA's James Weber Space Telescope (JWST) will be launched on December 18, which will be equipped with a spectrometer that can analyze some planet atmosphere. As mentioned in the article:

"These gases have unique features in the transmission spectrum of planets. Using James Weber Space Telescope for a moderate number of repetitive Ling Daying Observation should be able to distinguish the huge atmosphere on the planets such as the planets such as K2-18 B. This method provides a method of determining the atmospheric quality and livability of the Asian Sea King Star -type outer planet with the latest device. "

In other words, using chemical methods, JWST can recognize the atmosphere that may prove that the existence of the ocean existence of the ocean. See what JWST will discover in the next few months or years, which will be very excited.

Summary in one sentence: Scientists of NASA found that using chemical methods can find hidden oceans on distant foreign planets. The planet that exists in the ocean is completely different from the atmospheric components without the ocean, including the lack of ammonia.

(Note: The method of detecting the gas composition of the gas composition using spectral imaging instruments, and the possibility of the existence of the ocean with the correlation of the gas composition content and the existence of the ocean. It's really not high ...)

By: Paul Scott Anderson

Fy: Aphelion

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