Researchers have reported the discovery of a thick atmosphere around a super Earth planet named 55 Cancri e, which is twice as big as Earth in a nearby solar system. This rocky planet has a significant atmosphere composed of carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide, although the exact amounts are unknown. In comparison, Earth’s atmosphere consists of nitrogen, oxygen, argon, and other gases.

The study, published in the journal Nature, provides strong evidence that the super Earth has an atmosphere, according to Ian Crossfield, an astronomer at the University of Kansas. This planet, with boiling temperatures reaching up to 4,200 degrees Fahrenheit, is unlikely to support life but offers hope for the existence of other rocky planets with thick atmospheres that may be more habitable.

Situated 41 light years away, this super Earth is eight times heavier than our planet and circles its star Copernicus closely, with permanent day and night sides. By studying observations from the Webb Space Telescope, researchers were able to determine the planet’s temperature and analyze how heat is distributed evenly across its surface, a characteristic associated with atmospheres.

Investigating this super Earth further may offer insights into the early evolution of Earth and Mars