The James Webb Telescope detects carbon dioxide in an exoplanet for the first time

This announcement proves the telescope’s ability to analyze the atmospheres of exoplanets.

The discoveries are related to James Webb. The new telescope, which recently took amazing pictures, helped scientists detect carbon dioxide in the atmosphere of an exoplanet located more than 700 light years from Earth. This is the first time that carbon dioxide has been found on a planet outside the solar system.

The observed star is a massive gaseous planet called WASP-39b. It has, according to NASA press releaseIt is 1.3 times larger in diameter than Jupiter, yet it is the largest planet in the Solar System. This giant planet orbits close to its sun, and orbits the star in just 4 Earth days.

In search of life

In addition to carbon dioxide, James Webb made it possible to detect sodium, water vapor and potassium in the atmosphere of this planet. This discovery once again proves the many capabilities of the telescope. The atmospheres of other planets will now be observed, in particular to see if the conditions for creating life are met at the site.

Experts and space enthusiasts will be able to discover the full results of observing WASP-39b within a few days, since it was published in the journal temper nature I have planned.

Ahead of this new announcement, NASA revealed new images of Jupiter on Monday, showing in particular the aurora borealis located at the poles of the solar system planet. Suffice it to count the next few months full of discoveries.