NASA’s James Webb Telescope Finds a Mysterious Atmosphere on an Exoplanet: What It Is

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NASA’s James Webb Telescope Finds a Mysterious Atmosphere on an Exoplanet: What It Is

“55 Cancri e” is an extrasolar planet orbiting a Sun-like star and located forty light-years from Earth.


Aliens, Science, Space. Photo: Unsplash.

He The James Webb Space Telescope of NASA The scientific community was once again stunned by a discovery that could change the understanding of habitat Extraterrestrials. The instrument detects atmospheric gases “55 Cangri E”A rocky exoplanet orbits within the habitable zone of its parent star 41 light years from Earth.

This exoplanet is also known as Janssen, is not a recent invention. It was identified in 2004 and its transit observed in 2011. However, given its close proximity to its star and the extreme conditions it implies, the possibility of a habitable atmosphere is the subject of intense debate among astronomers.

James Webb.  Photo: REUTERS James Webb Telescope. Photo: Reuters.

However, atmospheric gases have recently been discovered James Webb This is a breakthrough that opens up new possibilities for its understanding and subsequent study.

Galaxy, black hole, universe.  Photo by Unsplash.

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Details of the exoplanet

“55 Cangri E” It is classified as a super-Earth with one mass Eight times larger than Earth and A diameter roughly doubles. This structure has led to speculation about its ability to support life. Recent observations suggest that it may have an atmosphere Water vapor molecules and many others Gases essential to life, We know.

Comparison of exoplanets Comparison of exoplanets with “55 Cancri e”. Photo: NASA.

Also, it indicates the proximity of the planet to its star Its surface is probably a bubbling magma ocean. However, the possibility of one side of the planet being in total darkness and the other always glowing opens the door to more temperate conditions. Liveable potential Dark face.

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“The temperature during the day is approx 2,500 degrees CelsiusThat’s about it on the night side 1,100 degrees; The difference is huge,” he explained. Bryce-Oliver Demoryof University of CambridgeLead author of a study published in the journal Nature.

The discovery of this exoplanet was actually made in 2022.  Photo: Unsplash. extraterrestrial Photo: Unsplash.

nearby extraterrestrial It makes it a prime target for future research, and scientists hope to study its atmosphere in more detail to find out Biofirmsthat is, Chemical signals It means there is life.

Detecting these gases not only increases the confidence of discovery Extraterrestrial lifeBut it also raises an interest in reflecting on the diversity of allowable conditions existence of organisms In other worlds.

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