Astronomers Find Water Vapor in Atmosphere of a Habitable-Zone Exoplanet for the First Time

By Jake Parks
Sep 11, 2019 12:00 AMNov 19, 2019 12:34 AM
csm 20190910 ABoersma Exoplanet 98c11b121e
The watery exoplanet K2-18 b is surrounded by water vapor in this artist’s illustration. (Credit: Alex Boersma)

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Astronomers have finally uncovered water vapor in the atmosphere of a super-Earth exoplanet orbiting within the habitable zone of its star. The find means that liquid water could also exist on the rocky world’s surface, potentially even forming a global ocean.

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