A new study has revealed an exciting discovery: a helium-dominated atmosphere has been found around a nearby exoplanet! This first-of-its-kind finding is the result of data collected by the Hubble Space Telescope and other ground-based observatories. The planet, known as WASP-107b, is located approximately 200 light-years away from Earth and is roughly the size of Jupiter.

This discovery is particularly remarkable because WASP-107b is located in a relatively cool region of space, which makes the presence of helium even more surprising. The atmosphere of this exoplanet is almost entirely composed of helium, with only traces of hydrogen detected. This is a stark contrast to gas giant planets in our own solar system, which are composed primarily of hydrogen and helium.

The research team believes that the helium-rich atmosphere of WASP-107b is likely the result of its close proximity to its parent star. This intense radiation causes the atmosphere to be stripped away, leading to the unusual composition of the exoplanet.

This groundbreaking discovery could provide new insights into the formation and evolution of planets outside of our own solar system. Further studies of WASP-107b and other exoplanets may help us

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source: Phys.org