Water Vapor Detected in Atmosphere of Exoplanet Gliese 9827d

Discovery marks smallest exoplanet with detected water vapor, offering potential breakthrough in understanding water-rich worlds.

Astronomers have detected water vapor in the atmosphere of the exoplanet Gliese 9827d, making it the smallest exoplanet where water vapor has been detected.
The planet, which is twice the diameter of Earth, orbits a star 97 light-years away from Earth in the constellation Pisces.
The detection of water vapor could represent a breakthrough in understanding water-rich worlds elsewhere in the galaxy, as the presence of water on other planets is considered a crucial factor in determining the potential for life.
Scientists are yet to determine whether the planet’s atmosphere is mostly water or a puffy hydrogen-rich atmosphere.
The James Webb Space Telescope has recently observed Gliese 9827d, and scientists are awaiting the data to learn more about the planet's atmospheric composition.