The James Webb Space Telescope has shed light on the gas atmosphere of the exoplanet TOI-270 d, revealing chemical compounds that suggest the presence of water vapor, methane, and carbon dioxide. However, there are differing opinions on whether the planet’s surface could support liquid water based on its temperature and pressure.
A group of astronomers from Cantabrigian University believe that the chemical composition of the planet’s gas atmosphere indicates the presence of an ocean covering the entire surface. According to their interpretation, the ocean’s temperature could reach over a hundred degrees Celsius. This interpretation is based on the absence of ammonia in the atmosphere, which suggests the presence of an ocean.
On the other hand, a team of astronomers from Canada has a different interpretation of the data. They believe that TOI-270 d is too hot for liquid water to exist on its surface, with temperatures reaching up to 4,000 degrees Celsius. Instead, they propose that the planet has a very dense atmosphere of hydrogen and water vapor.
TOI-270 d is locked in its orbit, meaning that it always presents the same side to its parent star while