The James Webb Space Telescope has been used to confirm the existence of a planet that orbits a different star for the first time ever. The planet is almost exactly the same size as our own planet and has been officially identified as LHS 475 b, according to NASA.
The diameter of LHS 475 b is nearly 100% that of the Earth. The scientists were able to determine that the planet only takes two days to complete an orbit around its star thanks to Webb’s exact light curve. The planet is orbiting a red dwarf star that has a temperature that is less than half that of the Sun, while being closer to its star than any other planet in our solar system.
The study group decided to use the Webb telescope to monitor the target location after carefully examining targets of interest from NASA’s Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite. In just two transit observations, the Near-Infrared Spectrograph on board the space observatory (NIRCam) was able to capture the planet.
These initial observations from an Earth-sized, rocky planet “open the door to numerous future opportunities for researching the atmospheres of rocky planets with Webb,” according to the report. In a press release, research team member Mark Clampin remarked that Webb is advancing our knowledge of Earth-like planets outside of our solar system. The study’s findings were revealed during an American Astronomical Society (AAS) press conference on Wednesday
According to NASA, Webb is the only telescope that can identify the atmospheres of planets the size of Earth that orbit far-off stars. Webb is sensitive enough to pick up a variety of molecules in the atmosphere of LHS 475 b, but no firm conclusions have been reached yet. In fact, the planet’s atmosphere might not exist at all.
They are able to confirm what is absent from the planet’s atmosphere but are unable to yet say what is present. For instance, they are aware that the planet does not possess Titan, Saturn’s moon, which has a dense atmosphere dominated by methane.
One of the most intriguing elements of the research is that it opens the door to the discovery of new Earth-sized terrestrial planets. This skill could be useful in the search for new planets that are capable of supporting life.
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