JAKARTA – Researchers confirm the success of the James Webb Space Telescope in finding the first Earth-sized exoplanet. The planet is classified as LHS 475 b.
The findings presented at the meeting of the American Astronomical Society (AAS), last Wednesday (11/1) are interesting, because so far most of the exoplanets found are usually large planets formed from gas, similar to the planet Jupiter.
Meanwhile, LHS 475 b has a diameter less than one-tenth of the exoplanets that can generally be found. Or, 99% the diameter of the Earth.
The researchers were led by Kevin Stevenson and Jacob Lustig-Yaeger from the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory in Laurel, Maryland, United States. They observed the planet with the James Webb Space Telescope, after reviewing data from NASA’s Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS) that hinted at the planet’s presence.
Where the Near-Infrared Spectrograph (NIRSpec) of the James Webb Space Telescope managed to capture the planet easily and clearly with just two transit observations.
“There is no doubt that the planet exists. Webb’s original data validates it,” said Lustig-Yaeger, quoted from astrobiology.
Only 41 light years away which is relatively close to the astronomical world, the attraction of LHS 475 b also lies on its known rocky surface. The researchers also noted that although the planet may not have an atmosphere, there are several possible compositions of the atmosphere that have not been confirmed. For example, an atmosphere of pure carbon dioxide is much denser, making it very difficult to detect.
For this reason, further measurements are still needed. For which the researchers have scheduled to obtain additional spectra with further observations this summer.
In addition, the James Webb Space Telescope also revealed that LHS 475 b has a temperature several hundred degrees warmer than Earth. So that later researchers can detect the presence of clouds on the planet, they can at least conclude that LHS 475 b is more like Venus, which has an atmosphere of carbon dioxide and is constantly shrouded in thick clouds.
“We are at the forefront of studying small, rocky exoplanets. We’ve only just begun to scratch the surface of what their atmosphere is like,” said Lustig-Yaeger.
Launching on Christmas Day 2021, the latest invention of the James Webb Space Telescope is definitely something of a price in the world of astronomy. At the same time again proving how valuable the ability of the telescope is.
Director of the Astrophysics Division at NASA Headquarters in Washington, Mark Clampin, even said that the James Webb Space Telescope has opened the door to many possibilities in the future for studying the atmospheres of rocky planets in Outer Space.
“Webb is bringing us ever closer to a new understanding of Earth-like worlds beyond our Solar System, and its mission has only just begun,” he believes.
