“Water worlds” discovered in space by UdeM researchers

Two planets composed mainly of water, located outside the solar system, have recently been discovered, announced a team of researchers from the University of Montreal (UdeM) on Thursday.

This is what advanced a study published in the journal Nature Astronomy by a team under the direction of astronomers from UdeM.

“This is the first time we have observed planets that can be definitely designated as water worlds, a type of planet that astronomers theorized to exist a long time ago,” explained Björn Benneke, professor at UdeM.

In the planetary system better known as “Kepler-138,” researchers have found two “water worlds,” that is, planets where water makes up a significant fraction of their volume.

According to scientists, these worlds, located 218 light years from Earth, in the constellation of Lyra, would be different from all known planets of the solar system until today.

The two new twin planets called “Kepler-138 c” and “Kepler-138 d” are regarding one and a half times the size of Earth, the researchers said in a statement.

Separately, the team warns that planets may not have oceans like Earth’s, located directly on the planet’s surface.

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“The temperature in the atmospheres of Kepler-138 c and Kepler-138 d is likely above the boiling point of water, and we expect the atmospheres of these planets to be thick, dense, and made of steam,” said doctoral student Caroline Piaulet of the Trottier Institute for Research on Exoplanets at UdeM.

“As our instruments and techniques become sensitive enough to spot and study planets further away from their star, we may begin to find many more water worlds like Kepler-138 c and Kepler-138 d” , added Björn Benneke.

It should also be noted that another UdeM team recently discovered a planet that might potentially be covered by an ocean of liquid water, but more advanced research will have to be carried out.