'Mini-Neptunes' may be rocky water worlds

[Admin]

A strong greenhouse effect allows these "super-Earth" exoplanets to masquerade as "mini-Neptunes."

'Mini-Neptunes' may be rocky water worlds : Read more

 

[rod]

FYI. I checked this exoplanet site, http://exoplanet.eu/ My SQL query pulled 268 exoplanets listed in the mass range, 1.5 to 17 earth masses. This site lists 376 exoplanets in this mass range, https://exoplanetarchive.ipac.caltech.edu/index.html

Good to see this pointed out in the article, "This same phenomenon could be happening in the TRAPPIST-1 b, c, and d exoplanets, the scientists added, urging more study of these alien worlds to refine their tentative conclusions. This exoplanet group is part of a set of several purportedly Earth-size planets orbiting a star named TRAPPIST-1; at least some of the planets could be considered habitable (meaning, liquid water would exist on their surface.)"

It seems today, we have many exoplanets reported in the mass range 1.5 to 17 earth masses around different host stars. As the article stated, "The atmospheres of both mini-Neptunes and super-Earths could be greatly affected by stellar radiation, added a second CNRS researcher paper published June 9 in the journal Astronomy and Astrophysics. That study found that Earth-size exoplanets containing water could see their atmospheres grow much larger under the influence of a strong greenhouse effect induced by a star's radiation. Therefore the mini-Neptunes "could be super-Earths with a rocky core surrounded by water in a supercritical state," CNRS said, adding that the finding suggests super-Earths and mini-Neptunes may form in the same way."

Perhaps many exoplanets considered or claimed to be in the habitable zone of their host stars, are not so habitable after all.