These days, detecting a planetary atmosphere tens or even hundreds of light-years from Earth might not sound like such a big deal. Scientists have found signs of atmosphere surrounding dozens of exoplanets over the past two decades. The catch is, all those planets have thick, hydrogen-dominated atmospheres that are relatively easy to study. The much thinner blankets of gas that almost certainly surround some small, rocky exoplanets have remained elusive.

Researchers think they may have finally caught a glimpse of a volatile-rich atmosphere surrounding a rocky planet. Light emitted by the hot, highly-irradiated exoplanet 55 Cancri e shows compelling evidence for an atmosphere, probably rich in carbon dioxide or carbon monoxide, which may be bubbling from a vast ocean of lava covering the planet’s surface.

The result is the best evidence to date for a rocky planet atmosphere outside our solar system.

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