Sentences with phrase «thick hydrogen atmosphere»

However, the planet may be too hot to hold onto a thick hydrogen atmosphere (discussion).

Not exact matches

When they grew to about 10 times the mass of Earth, their gravity pulled in gas from their birth cloud, giving them thick atmospheres made mainly of hydrogen around their solid cores.

This suggests that the planet is enveloped by a significant atmosphere of hydrogen and helium hundreds of miles thick.

But in many instances, the simulations show, even planets starting with rocky cores as little as 1.5 Earth's mass may trap and hold atmospheres containing between 100 and 1000 times the amount of hydrogen found in the water in Earth's oceans — thick, dense envelopes exerting pressures so hellish that life on the planets» surfaces might be almost impossible.

Computer simulations show that planets similar to or larger in mass than the Earth that are born with thick envelopes of hydrogen and helium are likely to retain their stifling atmospheres.

If these warm, nearly Earth - size planets have thick, hydrogen - rich atmospheres, there is not much chance for life.

Planets that are smaller (i.e. 1.5 Earth radii or less) or have less hydrogen and helium early in their lives turn into dense, rocky planets with solid surfaces, while larger planets or those with more gas turn into Neptune - like planets with no discernable solid surface and thick atmospheres.