The James Webb Telescope detects carbon dioxide in the atmosphere of an exoplanet for the first time
The James Webb Telescope has detected carbon dioxide in the atmosphere of an exoplanet for the first time.
From discoveries to discoveries. The extremely powerful James Webb Space Telescope has detected carbon dioxide in the atmosphere of an exoplanet, that is, a planet outside our solar system, NASA transmits Thursday, August 25.
Catch Your Breath – Webb has captured the first clear evidence of carbon dioxide (CO2) in the atmosphere of a planet outside our solar system! WASP-39 B is a gas giant that orbits closely around a Sun-like star 700 light-years away: https://t.co/FenLqV6HSo pic.twitter.com/abJvqxfLdG
—NASA Webb Telescope (@NASAWebb) August 25 2022
“Hold your breath,” wrote the US space agency, according to which the precious carbon dioxide, necessary for life, was discovered on the gas giant WASP-39 b, which was discovered in 2011. It is the first time that carbon dioxide has been detected on a planet outside our solar system.
If life as we know it is impossible there, this advance confirms science in making similar observations on rocky planets.
Sodium, water vapor, potassium…
In addition to carbon dioxide, James Webb was able to detect traces of sodium, water vapor and potassium in the atmosphere of WASP-39b, confirming its incredible accuracy. The telescope will now move to other planetary atmospheres, always with the aim of seeing if it is possible to meet the conditions for the appearance of life there.
Last Monday, the astronomical apparatus sent Stunning pictures of Jupiterrevealing the aurora borealis of the gas giant.
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