13. A Novel Exoplanet
Found Year: 2022
The University of California made the discovery.
Where: Seven hundred light years away
One of the most potent telescopes in the world, the Webb Telescope, made yet another incredible discovery in late 2022. The observatory’s emphasis was on WASP-39b, a newly discovered exoplanet (a planet outside of our solar system). Approximately 700 light-years away, a hot gas giant is in a close orbit around a star.
Researchers also discovered something unusual on A New Exoplanet @NASA/Twitter: a wide variety of atoms and molecules inside the exoplanet’s clouds. We may be getting closer to understanding whether planets are capable of supporting life because Webb’s discovery of some of these molecules’ interactions suggests that these molecules may be interacting. The ozone layer, which is necessary for life on Earth, was produced by the chemistry of our atmosphere.
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