GJ 486 b Archives - Astrobiology

Black points are the sample of the planetary formation dataset provided by Kimura & Ikoma (2022) in the phase space of ∆a = 0.005AU, ∆Mp = 0.5M⊕. Two-dimensional probability density distribution of the initial water content and hydrogen-rich atmospheric mass for GJ 486b analogs, constructed using Gaussian kernel density estimation (KDE). The water content axis is sampled logarithmically and the atmospheric mass axis is sampled linearly to properly account for the dynamic range of the variables. The red overlaid ellipse represents the 3σ confidence region derived from the covariance matrix, indicating the principal dispersion of the sample distribution. -- astro-ph.EP

Astrochemistry, Astrogeology, Astronomy & Telescopes, Atmospheres, Climate, Weather, Biogeochemical Cycles & Geobiology, Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Exoplanets, -moons, -comets, Imaging & Spectroscopy, Status Report, Water/Hycean Worlds & Oceanography

Inversion of Hydrogen-rich Atmosphere and Water Content for GJ 486b

by Keith CowingApril 23, 2026April 23, 2026

GJ-486b is a close-in planet orbiting an M dwarf and is therefore expected to have undergone strong atmospheric escape. Motivated by theoretical and observational studies on the constraints of its […]

Position of TOI-270 b relative to the cosmic shoreline.

Astrochemistry, Astrogeology, Atmospheres, Climate, Weather, Biochemistry & Organic Chemistry, Biogeochemical Cycles & Geobiology, Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Exoplanets, -moons, -comets, Imaging & Spectroscopy, Status Report

Possible Evidence For The Presence Of Volatiles On The Warm Super-Earth TOI-270 b

by Keith CowingSeptember 18, 2025September 18, 2025

The search for atmospheres on rocky exoplanets is a crucial step in understanding the processes driving atmosphere formation, retention, and loss.

This infographic compares the characteristics of three classes of stars in our galaxy: Sunlike stars are classified as G stars; stars less massive and cooler than our Sun are K dwarfs; and even fainter and cooler stars are the reddish M dwarfs. The size of the habitable zone is different for each class of star. In our solar system, the habitable zone begins just beyond the orbit of Venus and almost encompasses Mars. Credits: NASA, ESA and Z. Levy (STScI)

Astronomy & Telescopes, Atmospheres, Climate, Weather, Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Exoplanets, -moons, -comets, Habitable Zones, Imaging & Spectroscopy, Press Release

Reconnaissance Of Potentially Habitable Worlds With Webb Space Telescope

by Keith CowingJune 5, 2024June 5, 2024

Exoplanets are common in our galaxy, and some even orbit in the so-called habitable zone of their star. NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope has been busy observing a few of […]

Boundaries of the Habitable Zone under various climate and atmospheric models as a function of radiative flux received from the host star, relative to Earth. Dashed lines represent the extended boundaries due to subglacial liquid water suggested in this work: blue for the inner HZ boundary (nightside ice evaporates due to heat transport, the percentage marks the global transport parameter f) and violet for the outer one (Martian polar lakes). Solid green lines and green shading denote the conservative HZ boundaries: inner one (moist greenhouse) and outer one (maximum CO2 greenhouse), calculated using the 1-D climate model. Also marked is the recent Venus boundary (dashed green line). The orange curve marks the tidal locking radius. Circles denote the terrestrial planets in the solar system and a few Earth-sized exoplanets orbiting M-dwarf stars. -- Hebrew University of Jerusalem

Biogeochemical Cycles & Geobiology, Exoplanets, -moons, -comets, Habitable Zones, Icy Worlds, Press Release, Water/Hycean Worlds & Oceanography

Extended Habitability Of Exoplanets Due To Subglacial Water

by Keith CowingNovember 10, 2023November 10, 2023

Professor Amri Wandel, from Hebrew University of Jerusalem, has unveiled research that promises to redefine our comprehension of habitable exoplanets. In a recent study published in the Astronomical Journal, Professor […]

Boundaries of the Habitable Zone under various climate and atmospheric models as a function of radiative flux received from the host star, relative to Earth. Dashed lines represent the extended boundaries due to subglacial liquid water suggested in this work: blue for the inner HZ boundary (night-side ice evaporates due to heat transport, the percentage marks the global transport parameter f) and violet for the outer one (Martian polar lakes). Solid green lines and green shading denote the conservative HZ boundaries: inner one (moist greenhouse) and outer one (maximum CO2 greenhouse), calculated using the 1-D climate model. Also marked is the Recent Venus boundary (dashed green line). The orange curve marks the tidal locking radius. Circles denote the terrestrial planets in the solarsystem and a few Earth-sized exoplanets orbiting M-dwarf stars. -- astro-ph.EP

Astrogeology, Atmospheres, Climate, Weather, Biogeochemical Cycles & Geobiology, Exoplanets, -moons, -comets, Habitable Zones, Icy Worlds, Status Report

Extended Habitability Of Exoplanets Due To Subglacial Water

by Keith CowingOctober 5, 2023October 4, 2023

Considering subglacial liquid water, a significant extension of the classical Habitable Zone is obtained. Elaborating on the model of Wandel (2023) it is shown how an atmosphere and liquid water […]

Astronomers used the NASA/ESA/CSA James Webb Space Telescope to study a rocky exoplanet known as GJ 486 b. It is too close to its star to be within the habitable zone, with a surface temperature of about 430 degrees Celsius.

Astrochemistry, Astronomy & Telescopes, Exoplanets, -moons, -comets, Imaging & Spectroscopy, Press Release

Webb Finds Water Vapor, But From A Rocky Planet Or Its Star?

by Keith CowingMay 1, 2023May 1, 2023

Astronomers used the NASA/ESA/CSA James Webb Space Telescope to study a rocky exoplanet known as GJ 486 b. It is too close to its star to be within the habitable […]