Atmosphere Detected On Rocky Exoplanet In Goldilocks Zone

Atmospheric Detection on LHS 1140b

Researchers have identified an atmosphere surrounding LHS 1140b, an exoplanet first discovered in 2017. Located 49 light-years away in the constellation Cetus, the planet orbits a red dwarf star.

The research team utilized the Warm Infrared Echelle (WINERED) Spectrograph at the Magellan Observatory in Chile to detect the gas. By observing the planet as it transited its host star, scientists identified helium escaping into space. Dr.

“This is the first actually observationally confirmed atmosphere on a rocky planet in the habitable zone outside of our solar system.”

Dr. Collin Cherubim, lead author

The “Goldilocks Zone” and Habitability Factors

Its orbit around a red dwarf takes 24.7 days, placing it in the Goldilocks Zone—the thermal region where conditions may allow for liquid water to exist on the surface. While red dwarf stars are common, they are often characterized by high levels of ionizing radiation that can strip planets of their atmospheres.

Jayne Birkby, a professor of astrophysics at the University of Oxford, noted that the discovery provides critical insight into planetary survival around such stars. That makes this discovery of an atmosphere surrounding LHS 1140b a crucial step towards understanding what it’s like living with a red dwarf, she stated. The planet’s ability to retain its atmosphere despite the star’s radiation suggests it may serve as a primary laboratory for future astrobiology research.

For more on this story, see Astronomers Find an Atmosphere on a Nearby Earthlike Planet.

Methodology and Verification

The research team employed a computer model developed by Cherubim to predict the atmospheric leakage of helium. To ensure the accuracy of their findings, the scientists ruled out every false positive we could think of, including potential contamination from Earth’s own atmosphere. The team also conducted comparative observations of LHS 1140c, another rocky planet in the same system, but found no evidence of an atmosphere there.

Despite the success of the detection, the data has shown variability. Observations of helium recorded in 2024 were not replicated in 2025, a discrepancy that initially surprised the research team. However, experts suggest this variation may offer further clues about the planet’s environment. Dr. Yamila Miguel of Leiden Observatory noted that the planet’s atmospheric loss is a key feature that makes it observable, adding: What makes this planet so interesting is that it is losing enough of its atmosphere that we can actually detect it from here, which is not easy for a small, rocky planet.

Future Prospects for Astrobiology

The discovery has positioned LHS 1140b as a top candidate for continued investigation. Researchers are now focused on determining the full chemical composition of the atmosphere and searching for further evidence of surface features, such as oceans. The ability to detect escaping gases from the ground using infrared spectrographs marks a shift in how astronomers might approach the study of distant worlds.

As the scientific community moves forward, the focus remains on whether the planet could support life and what protections such life might require. It naturally leads one to ask if life could thrive here and if so what type of protective gear it would have had to evolve for itself, Birkby added. For now, LHS 1140b represents the most promising Earth-like environment discovered in the 34 years since the first exoplanet detection in 1992.