Lead study author Charles Cadieux, a PhD student at the University of Montreal, remarked that among all known temperate exoplanets, LHS 1,140 b is possibly the most promising candidate for confirming liquid water on the surface of an alien world.
Approximately 10 to 20 percent of the exoplanet’s mass is estimated to be water. In stark contrast, Earth’s oceans account for a mere 0.02 percent of its mass. The state of this water, whether liquid or ice, hinges on the planet’s atmospheric composition, with gases like carbon dioxide playing a crucial role.
One encouraging factor is the planet’s gentle warming by its red dwarf star, which is only one-fifth the size of our Sun. This stellar relationship suggests that the exoplanet’s surface temperature is likely comparable to that of Earth and Mars.
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