Specialists from Harvard University published a major study in which astronomers analyzed data on about 4,000 exoplanets, the images of which were obtained during the space missions Kepler and Gaia.
As a basis for the work, astronomers recorded data on "super-earths" – planets that are larger than Earth, but not big enough to become gas giants. Such planetary scientists are divided into two groups: with a radius of about one and a half the radius of the earth and about 2.5 earth radius.
These data help astronomers develop models of the internal structure of super-earth.
In their work, astronomers created a model that shows that exoplanets with a radius of about one and a half radius of the earth must have a hard surface. But exoplanets with a radius of 2.5 the earth need & # 39; ocean planets & # 39; are, where most of the water is.
The authors believe that about 35% of the known super-brans should be such worlds-oceans.
Scientists do not yet know whether these exoplanets are suitable for a life on earth. Most likely these super-countries are surrounded by a dense atmosphere with water vapor and the temperature at the surface of the oceans reaches 200-500 ° C.
What happens at the depths of these oceans is unknown. If there is life there, it is most likely very different from the earthly.
Source link