Venus-like Exoplanet Might Have Oxygen Atmosphere, But Not Life2016-18 | www.cfa.harvard.edu/
https://www.cfa.harvard.edu/news/2016-18
The distant planet GJ 1132b intrigued astronomers when it was discovered last year. Located just 39 light-years from Earth,
it might have an atmosphere despite being baked to a temperature of around 450 degrees Fahrenheit. But would that atmosphere
be thick and soupy or thin and wispy? New research suggests the latter is much more likely.
Harvard astronomer Laura Schaefer (Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics, or CfA) and her colleagues examined the question
of what would happen to GJ 1132b over time if it began with a steamy, water-rich atmosphere.
Orbiting so close to its star, at a distance of just 1.4 million miles, the planet is flooded with ultraviolet or UV light.
UV light breaks apart water molecules into hydrogen and oxygen, both of which then can be lost into space. However, since
hydrogen is lighter it escapes more readily, while oxygen lingers behind.
"On cooler planets, oxygen could be a sign of alien life and habitability. But on a hot planet like GJ 1132b, it's a sign of
the exact opposite - a planet that's being baked and sterilized," said Schaefer.