Super Earth has Hydrogen and Helium

55 Cancri is the exoplanet which is eight times the size of the Earth and has been dubbed Super Earth. It is located about 40 lightyears away from us and is circling a star which is slightly smaller than our own sun. The orbit is so close to the star that its year lasts just 18 hours and temperatures on the surface are thought to reach around 2000 degrees Celsius.

Scientists have also called it the diamond planet as they have speculated that based on its mass and radius is it likely to have a high carbon content. NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope observations were analysed by new software in order for the scientists to discover more about the atmosphere of 55 Cancri. This is what lead to the confirmation of gases Hydrogen and Helium in the atmosphere of the planet. The signature for Hydrogen Cyanide was also present.

Professor Giovanna Tinetti was delighted with the science project‘s observations and findings. He said that the result of the project gives a first insight into the atmosphere of a super-Earth. We now have clues as to what the planet is currently like, how it might have formed and evolved, and this has important implications for 55 Cancri and other super-Earths.