The team observed carbon dioxide on a hot gas giant called Wasp-39b, about 700 light years away
The world’s most powerful telescope has made its first observations of a planet beyond our solar system, heralding in a new era of astronomy in which distant worlds can be scanned for signs of life.Telescope, give new insights into the formation of the planet, a hot gas giant called Wasp-39bthat is 700 light years away in the Virgo constellation. They also provide the first clearcut evidence for carbon dioxide in the atmosphere of a planet orbiting a distant star.
A central aim of James Webb is to analyse the atmospheres of distant planets and search for biosignature gases that could indicate the presence of life on the planet below. Its proximity to the star means it is likely to be tidally locked, with one side constantly facing towards its star and the other side shrouded in unending darkness.
Previous results from the Hubble and Spitzer telescopes had given hints of the presence of carbon dioxide, but the latest observations, due to be published in the journal Nature, give the first conclusive evidence.
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