A Nondetection of Iron in the First High-resolution Emission Study of the Lava Planet 55 Cnc e

Journal article

Abstract Close-in lava planets represent an extreme example of terrestrial worlds, but their high temperatures may allow us to probe a diversity of crustal compositions. The brightest and most well-studied of these objects is 55 Cancri e, a nearby super-Earth with a remarkably short 17 hr orbit. However, despite numerous studies, debate remains about the existence and composition of its atmosphere. We present upper limits on the atmospheric pressure of 55 Cnc e derived from high-resolution time-series spectra taken with Gemini-N/MAROON-X. Our results are consistent with current crustal evaporation models for this planet which predict a thin ∼100 mbar atmosphere. We conclude that, if a mineral atmosphere is present on 55 Cnc e, the atmospheric pressure is below 100 mbar.

Authors: Rasmussen, KC; Currie, MH; Hagee, C; van Buchem, C; Malik, M

• Publication status: Published
• Peer review status: Peer reviewed
• Publisher: IOP Publishing
• Journal: The Astronomical Journal
• Volume: 166
• Issue: 4
• Pages: 155-155
• Publication date: 2023-09-12
• DOI: 10.3847/1538-3881/acf28e
• EISSN: 1538-3881
• ISSN: 0004-6256
• Language: English
• Keywords: Lava; Atmosphere (unit); Volcano; Geology; Astrophysics; Physics; Astrobiology; Planet; Geochemistry; Meteorology; Astronomy