In 2021, astronomers discovered Neptune's twin planet, which excited them. It's a gaseous world with a potentially rich atmosphere. The object is an ideal place for research because it is in a vantage point to dissect its atmospheric composition through space telescopes. In addition, the temperature of the Earth is 568°C (compared to the average temperature of the Earth's surface of 15°C) is relatively low and in equilibrium.
Moreover, at the moment of transit, the light of the parent star passed through the planet's atmosphere. However, a wave of a certain length absorbs some of the material in the atmosphere of this celestial body, which is revealed in spectral analysis by dark lines.
The exoplanet was named TOI-1231 B. It is located in the constellation Sail, about 90 light-years from Earth. Orbiting a red dwarf, orbiting every 24 days. The radius of TOI-1231 B is approximately 3 of Earth's5 times the weight of the Earth5 times.
The parent star, TOI-1231, is a type of m dwarf and is the most common in our Milky Way. The mass of such luminaries is 9% to 50% of the mass of the sun. TOI-1231 B is seven times farther from the star than the Earth is from the Sun, but it is quite cool.
This is because the temperature and luminosity of TOI-1231 are several times lower than that of the Sun. If we compare it to most known transit planets, which can reach temperatures of hundreds or thousands of degrees, then TOI-1231 B usually gets very cold.
Although TOI-1231 b itself is less dense, the planet's atmosphere is as dense as Neptune's. At the same time, scientists have not been able to estimate the size and extent of the gas shell. Diana Dragomir, one of the study's authors, said TOI-1231 B may have a rarefied hydrogen or hydrogen helium atmosphere.
The density of water vapor may be greater. Researchers believe that the Earth has enough potential to do this. At exoplanet temperatures, water clouds are likely to form in the upper layers of the atmosphere. This brings the atmosphere of TOI-1231 B closer to that of the Earth.
NASA scientists studying exoplanets believe that TOI-1231 B is generally suitable for the existence of life, but not for the terrestrial form. If it is suddenly discovered that there is indeed water on it, then given the planet's enormous size and its gravitational pull, it is only possible that there are alien life forms of gigantic size on TOI-1231 B. For example, giants.
In addition to TOI-1231 B, there is only one exoplanet available for study - the cool mini-Neptune K2-18 B. It is already known that its atmosphere contains water vapor. Upcoming observations by the Hubble and James Webb telescopes will provide the first comparative analysis of the gas envelopes of such similar planets. It is also possible to learn about the frequency of water clouds in the atmospheres of exoplanets with temperate climates. After all, this is the key to the emergence of life.