Using observations from the James Webb Space Telescope, researchers from an American university reported findings about exoplanet LHS 1140 b. The analysis suggests the planet could host a substantial liquid water ocean, a conclusion supported by recent space-based data and peer-reviewed interpretations.
LHS 1140 b lies about 46 light-years away in the Cetus constellation, a distance that is small on a cosmic scale. It orbits a red dwarf star significantly smaller than our Sun. Scientists confirm that Earth sits within the star system’s habitable zone, a region where temperatures might allow liquid water to persist on a planetary surface.
Early assessments indicate that the planet carries a nitrogen-rich atmosphere, a feature that aligns with some terrestrial characteristics. Estimates suggest that a meaningful portion of the planet’s mass could be in the form of liquid water, potentially between a fraction and a fifth of its total mass, depending on the exact atmospheric and geological conditions.
One interesting aspect of LHS 1140 b is tidal locking: a rotation that keeps one hemisphere forever facing its star. If this dynamic is correct, a sizeable portion of the planet may harbor stable bodies of water, possibly rivaling large bodies of water on Earth in scale even if distributed differently across the world.
According to current models, if LHS 1140 b possesses an atmosphere similar to Earth’s, it might be characterized as a world with a vast ocean and surface temperatures around a comfortable range for water, though the total climate would depend on atmospheric composition, greenhouse effects, and stellar radiation—factors that could create a planetary environment reminiscent of oceans with a surprisingly temperate interior.
Previous theoretical explorations have imagined other exotic worlds, including planets with extreme weather and atmospheres shaped by their unique chemical makeups. Such scenarios help scientists frame what is possible around red dwarf stars and what signs to look for when studying planets in this part of the galaxy. The ongoing research helps refine expectations for the diversity of planetary systems and the potential for water-bearing worlds beyond our solar system.