. 24/7 Space News .
EXO WORLDS
NASA's Webb confirms its first exoplanet
by Agency Writers
Baltimore MD (SPX) Jan 12, 2023

How do researchers spot a distant planet? By observing the changes in light as it orbits its star. A light curve from NASA's James Webb Space Telescope's Near-Infrared Spectrograph (NIRSpec) shows the change in brightness from the LHS 475 star system over time as the planet transited the star on August 31, 2022. LHS 475 b is a rocky, Earth-sized exoplanet that orbits a red dwarf star roughly 41 light-years away, in the constellation Octans. The planet is extremely close to its star, completing one orbit in two Earth-days. The planet's confirmation was made possible by Webb's data.

Researchers confirmed an exoplanet, a planet that orbits another star, using NASA's James Webb Space Telescope for the first time. Formally classified as LHS 475 b, the planet is almost exactly the same size as our own, clocking in at 99% of Earth's diameter. The research team is led by Kevin Stevenson and Jacob Lustig-Yaeger, both of the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory in Laurel, Maryland.

The team chose to observe this target with Webb after carefully reviewing targets of interest from NASA's Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS), which hinted at the planet's existence. Webb's Near-Infrared Spectrograph (NIRSpec) captured the planet easily and clearly with only two transit observations. "There is no question that the planet is there. Webb's pristine data validate it," said Lustig-Yaeger. "The fact that it is also a small, rocky planet is impressive for the observatory," Stevenson added.

"These first observational results from an Earth-size, rocky planet open the door to many future possibilities for studying rocky planet atmospheres with Webb," agreed Mark Clampin, Astrophysics Division director at NASA Headquarters in Washington. "Webb is bringing us closer and closer to a new understanding of Earth-like worlds outside our solar system, and the mission is only just getting started."

Among all operating telescopes, only Webb is capable of characterizing the atmospheres of Earth-sized exoplanets. The team attempted to assess what is in the planet's atmosphere by analyzing its transmission spectrum. Although the data shows that this is an Earth-sized terrestrial planet, they do not yet know if it has an atmosphere. "The observatory's data are beautiful," said Erin May, also of the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory. "The telescope is so sensitive that it can easily detect a range of molecules, but we can't yet make any definitive conclusions about the planet's atmosphere."

Although the team can't conclude what is present, they can definitely say what is not present. "There are some terrestrial-type atmospheres that we can rule out," explained Lustig-Yaeger. "It can't have a thick methane-dominated atmosphere, similar to that of Saturn's moon Titan."

The team also notes that while it's possible the planet has no atmosphere, there are some atmospheric compositions that have not been ruled out, such as a pure carbon dioxide atmosphere. "Counterintuitively, a 100% carbon dioxide atmosphere is so much more compact that it becomes very challenging to detect," said Lustig-Yaeger. Even more precise measurements are required for the team to distinguish a pure carbon dioxide atmosphere from no atmosphere at all. The researchers are scheduled to obtain additional spectra with upcoming observations this summer.

Webb also revealed that the planet is a few hundred degrees warmer than Earth, so if clouds are detected, it may lead the researchers to conclude that the planet is more like Venus, which has a carbon dioxide atmosphere and is perpetually shrouded in thick clouds. "We're at the forefront of studying small, rocky exoplanets," Lustig-Yaeger said. "We have barely begun scratching the surface of what their atmospheres might be like."

The researchers also confirmed that the planet completes an orbit in just two days, information that was almost instantaneously revealed by Webb's precise light curve. Although LHS 475 b is closer to its star than any planet in our solar system, its red dwarf star is less than half the temperature of the Sun, so the researchers project it still could have an atmosphere.

The researchers' findings have opened the possibilities of pinpointing Earth-sized planets orbiting smaller red dwarf stars. "This rocky planet confirmation highlights the precision of the mission's instruments," Stevenson said. "And it is only the first of many discoveries that it will make." Lustig-Yaeger agreed. "With this telescope, rocky exoplanets are the new frontier."

LHS 475 b is relatively close, at only 41 light-years away, in the constellation Octans.


Related Links
Goddard Space Flight Center
Lands Beyond Beyond - extra solar planets - news and science
Life Beyond Earth


Thanks for being there;
We need your help. The SpaceDaily news network continues to grow but revenues have never been harder to maintain.

With the rise of Ad Blockers, and Facebook - our traditional revenue sources via quality network advertising continues to decline. And unlike so many other news sites, we don't have a paywall - with those annoying usernames and passwords.

Our news coverage takes time and effort to publish 365 days a year.

If you find our news sites informative and useful then please consider becoming a regular supporter or for now make a one off contribution.
SpaceDaily Monthly Supporter
$5+ Billed Monthly


paypal only
SpaceDaily Contributor
$5 Billed Once


credit card or paypal


EXO WORLDS
Gaia helps discover directly imaged planet undergoing nuclear fusion
Exeter UK (SPX) Jan 11, 2023
Scientists have used the subtle movements of a distant star to help discover a new exoplanet - which is displaying signs of undergoing nuclear fusion in its core. An international team of scientists, led by Professor Sasha Hinkley at the University of Exeter, have detected a new exoplanet orbiting the star HD206893 - found around 750 trillion miles from Earth, and about 30% larger than our own sun. The researchers confirmed the distant planet using the Very Large Telescope's GRAVITY instrume ... read more

Comment using your Disqus, Facebook, Google or Twitter login.



Share this article via these popular social media networks
del.icio.usdel.icio.us DiggDigg RedditReddit GoogleGoogle

EXO WORLDS
Zero-Covid left in dust as Chinese revellers fuel travel boom

Crop seeds, microbial strains tested in China's two space missions unveiled

US, Japan sign Space Collaboration Agreement at NASA Headquarters

RIT scientists help rediscover earliest known star map using multispectral imaging

EXO WORLDS
SpaceX rocket launches U.S. military satellite into orbit

Structural details of Long March 9 revealed

Vulcan rocket one step closer to launch

Update on "Start Me Up" mission anomaly

EXO WORLDS
Ingenuity completes the A-Z tour of the Wright Brothers Field at Jezero Crater

Our Encanto: Sols 3716-3717

Back on the Job: Sol 3715

To the Marker Band again: Sols 3712-3714

EXO WORLDS
China to launch 200-plus spacecraft in 2023

China's space industry hits new heights

China's first private sector 2023 rocket launch up, up and away

First rocket launch of the New Year leaves Wenchang for space

EXO WORLDS
Inmarsat announces trans-Atlantic 'stepping stone' trip for latest British satellite

Carrier rockets place four satellites into orbit

Amazonas Nexus at Cape Canaveral for final processing

SES secures 300M Euro in financing from European Investment Bank

EXO WORLDS
Flashes on the Sun could help scientists predict solar flares

Eutelsat successfully decommissions EUTELSAT 5 West A satellite

Momentus to deliver FOSSA Systems satellites to orbit

Microchip radiation-tolerant power management devices will target LEO applications

EXO WORLDS
New small laser device can help detect signs of life on other planets

NASA's Webb confirms its first exoplanet

How do rocky planets really form

Distant star's dimming was likely a 'dusty' companion getting in the way, astronomers say

EXO WORLDS
Tumultuous migration on the edge of the Hot Neptune Desert

SwRI scientists find evidence for magnetic reconnection between Ganymede and Jupiter

SwRI delivers innovative instrument for NASA's Europa Clipper mission

PSI Io Input/Output observatory discovers large volcanic outburst on Jupiter's moon Io









The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2024 - Space Media Network. All websites are published in Australia and are solely subject to Australian law and governed by Fair Use principals for news reporting and research purposes. AFP, UPI and IANS news wire stories are copyright Agence France-Presse, United Press International and Indo-Asia News Service. ESA news reports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additional copyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. All articles labeled "by Staff Writers" include reports supplied to Space Media Network by industry news wires, PR agencies, corporate press officers and the like. Such articles are individually curated and edited by Space Media Network staff on the basis of the report's information value to our industry and professional readership. Advertising does not imply endorsement, agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by Space Media Network on any Web page published or hosted by Space Media Network. General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) Statement Our advertisers use various cookies and the like to deliver the best ad banner available at one time. All network advertising suppliers have GDPR policies (Legitimate Interest) that conform with EU regulations for data collection. By using our websites you consent to cookie based advertising. If you do not agree with this then you must stop using the websites from May 25, 2018. Privacy Statement. Additional information can be found here at About Us.