Nayeli Milena Estrada Mesa

READING COMPREHENSION ACTIVITY

Large Planet May Offer Clues about Atmospheres on Distant
Worlds
Scientists have found a rocky, Earth-like planet that may offer a chance to
study other atmospheres. This kind of research could help the hunt for life
outside of Earth.

The researchers said recently that the planet, called Gliese 486 b, is not
itself likely to have life. Orbiting a star relatively near our solar system,
Gliese 486 b is hot and dry like Venus, with possible rivers of lava flowing
on its surface.

But its nearness to Earth and its physical qualities make it well- suited for
a study of its atmosphere. Such research will use the next generation of
telescopes, including the James Webb Space Telescope that the American
space agency NASA plans to launch in October.

These telescopes could give scientists data to study the atmospheres of

other exoplanets - planets beyond our solar system - including ones that
may have life.

José Caballero of the Centro de Astrobiología in Spain was the co-writer

of the research that appeared in the journal Science.

Caballero called the new research possibility, “the Rosetta Stone of

exoplanetology.” He was comparing it to the ancient piece of stone that
helped experts understand ancient Egyptian writing.

Scientists have discovered more than 4,300 exoplanets. Some have been
large gas planets similar to Jupiter.

Others have been smaller, rocky Earth-like worlds. These are considered
candidates for having life. But current scientific instruments tell us little
about their atmospheres.
Trifon Trifonov of the Max Planck Institute for Astronomy in Germany
was the lead writer of the research. Trifonov said an exoplanet needs to
have certain qualities to work well for atmospheric study.

Gliese 486 b is located about 26.3 light years - the distance light travels in
a year - from Earth, or about 9.5 trillion kilometers. It is among the
closest exoplanets. It orbits a star that is smaller, cooler and less bright
than our sun. Gliese 486 b’s mass is 2.8 times greater than Earth’s.

The planet orbits very close to its home star. Its surface temperature is
about 430 degrees Celsius and its surface gravity may be 70 percent
stronger than Earth’s.

“Gliese 486 b cannot be habitable, at least not the way we know it here on
Earth,” Trifonov said.

Still, Gliese 486 b could prove useful for studying the atmosphere of an
Earth-like planet using the James Webb Space Telescope and the future
Extremely Large Telescope, which is now being built in Chile.

The chemical mixture of an atmosphere can tell a lot about a planet and
its ability to have life.

Cabellero said that what we learn from Gliese 486 b and other Earth-like
planets could help scientists better understand atmospheres of other
exoplanets that may have life.

COMPREHENSION QUESTIONS
A- finding specific information
1. What did scientists find?
a) A planet with the same characteristics as Earth.
b) A planet with characteristics that are close to Earth.
c) A planet with the atmosphere of the Earth.
d) A planet in the same solar system as the Earth.

2. What is the potential impact of this discovery?

a) Scientists discovered life in this planet.
b) Astronauts can visit this planet in the future.
 c) Investigations about life in other planets can advance.
d) Scientist can investigate about hoe to hunt in other planets.

3. Gliese 486 b is not a planet that supports life. What are the reasons?
a) It is very close to Venus.
b) It has too much lava.
c) It is a hotter planet than Venus.
d) It is very hot and dry with lava rivers on the surface.

4. What particular technology will scientists use to study the planet?

a) Last-generation powerful telescopes.
b) The James Webb Space Telescope.
c) A powerful new telescope that was tested very recently.
d) Powerful new telescopes including a new American telescope.

5. Why does José Caballero call the research possibility "the Rosetta Stone of
exoplanetology"?
a) The research could help scientists obtain many details about the atmospheres of
exoplanets.
b) The research helped scientists discover all the secrets of exoplanets.
c) The research can help scientists discover more exoplanets in the future.
d) The research helped scientists understand life in other planets.

6. What is not true about exoplanets?

a) They are outside our solar system.
b) They can be as big as Jupiter.
c) They have characteristics that support life.
d) Scientists have discovered more than a thousand.

B-Open comprehension questions

7. What is an exoplanet?

They are planets that are outside the Solar System.

8. What is the limitation to study the atmosphere of exoplanets?

Characteristics to be able to study the atmosphere well

9. What are some characteristics of Gliese 486 b that make it suitable for
atmospheric study?
 The characteristics that make Gliese 486 b suitable for studying the atmosphere is
that it is located about 26.3 light years, the distance that light travels in one year
from Earth, or about 9.5 trillion kilometers. It is one of the closest exoplanets. It
orbits a star that is smaller, cooler, and less bright than our sun. The mass of Gliese
486 b is 2.8 times that of Earth.
The planet orbits very close to its star of origin. Its surface temperature is about
430 degrees Celsius and its surface gravity can be 70 percent stronger than Earth's.
"Gliese 486 b cannot be habitable, at least not in the way we know it here on Earth,"
Trifonov said.

10. In what way is chemistry information important for the scientists?

The text says that the chemical mixture of an atmosphere can tell a lot about a
planet and its ability to have life.

11. Why is the study of Gliese 486 b important for future studies about other
exoplanets?
Cabellero said that what we learn from Gliese 486 b and other Earth-like planets
could help scientists better understand atmospheres of other exoplanets that may
have life.