About the episode
Astronomers with James Webb have observed a planet with a mass six times that of the gas giant Jupiter. The planet orbits a star relatively close to the sun and is extremely cold. In fact, if the data is correct, it would be the oldest and coldest planet ever recorded.
Astronomers typically detect exoplanets as they pass between Earth and their star. This causes a dip in the star’s light. This tells researchers everything about the object that caused the dip. Gravity can also be examined. For example, a planet can affect the behavior of a star, and that motion can be measured.
Direct observation of an exoplanet is very rare. Of the exoplanets that have been seen this way, most are so hot and bright that they can be seen by the light of their star.
Thanks to gravitational technology, there was already suspicion that a large planet could be found 12 light years from Earth. Then an attempt was made to see this planet using the James Webb telescope. The onboard devices were able to remove the star’s glare, so that the planet became actually visible.
It must be a gas giant like Jupiter, but with six times the mass. The planet is 15 times farther from its star than Earth is from the Sun, and its temperature is just above freezing.
Now it would be nice if there was more evidence that it is indeed a planet—for example, an image where the dot was moved—but it’s an exciting observation even without that extra data. We may be one step closer to actually seeing these types of exoplanets.
Read more about the research here: This glowing spot is a frozen exoplanet six times the size of Jupiter.
