Scientists have made a groundbreaking discovery with the James Webb Space Telescope, directly observing carbon dioxide on four exoplanets outside our solar system for the first time.
For the first time, scientists have directly observed carbon dioxide on four exoplanets outside our solar system using the James Webb Space Telescope. The detection provides strong evidence that these planets formed in a similar way to Jupiter and Saturn, through the slow formation of solid cores.
The four giant exoplanets, all part of the HR 8799 system located 130 light-years from Earth, are thought to have formed about 30 million years ago. This is relatively young compared to our solar system, which has existed for 4.6 billion years. The planets in this system still emit large amounts of infrared light, providing valuable data on their formation and evolution.
Carbon dioxide has been an essential ingredient for life on Earth, making it a key target in the search for life elsewhere in outer space. The detection of CO2 on these exoplanets offers clues about how distant planets form and provides insights into the formation of our own solar system. According to William Balmer, lead author of the paper, ‘By detecting these strong formations of carbon dioxide, we have shown that there is a considerable fraction of heavier elements in the atmospheres of these planets.’
The JWST has demonstrated its ability to directly analyze the chemical composition of atmospheres as far away as these exoplanets. The telescope’s coronagraphs allowed for direct observation of the planet, enabling scientists to study specific gases and atmospheric details. Balmer described this setting as ‘like putting your thumb in front of the sun when you look at the sky,’ which enabled the team to detect carbon dioxide on these distant worlds.
The detection of carbon dioxide on these exoplanets has significant implications for understanding their formation and evolution. If these huge planets act like bowling balls cruising through our solar system, they can disrupt or protect other planets. Therefore, better understanding their formation is crucial to understanding the formation, survival, and habitability of Earth-like planets in the future.
Earth-like planets are celestial bodies that share similar characteristics with our home planet.
These features include a solid surface, a stable atmosphere, and liquid water present on the surface.
Astronomers use various methods to detect these planets, including transit photometry and radial velocity measurements.
The search for earth-like planets is crucial in understanding the possibility of life beyond Earth.
According to NASA, over 4,000 exoplanets have been discovered so far, with many more awaiting confirmation.
Laurent Pueyo, coauthor of the paper, noted that ‘we have other lines of evidence that point to the formation of these four planets by this bottom-up approach.’ Further observations through the Webb telescope are proposed to answer questions about how common this process is in long-period planets.
