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Webb Telescope Solves a 20-Year-Old Planetary Mystery Sparked by Hubble


Published on 2024-12-24 08:22:29 - Gizmodo
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  • Perplexing data in the early 2000s raised questions about how planetary formation began in the universe, and new data from Webb provides some answers.

The James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) has provided new insights into a 20-year-old mystery initially sparked by observations from the Hubble Space Telescope. The mystery involved the planet GJ 1214b, a mini-Neptune exoplanet, which appeared unusually reflective and had an unexpectedly flat spectrum, suggesting a high-altitude haze or cloud cover. Using its advanced infrared capabilities, JWST observed GJ 1214b during a secondary eclipse, where the planet passed behind its star, allowing scientists to isolate the planet's light. The observations revealed that GJ 1214b has a thick, reflective atmosphere composed mainly of water vapor, methane, and hydrogen, with possibly some clouds or haze. This atmosphere reflects a significant amount of starlight, explaining the planet's high albedo and flat spectrum. These findings not only solve the long-standing puzzle but also enhance our understanding of the atmospheric composition and behavior of mini-Neptunes, which are common in our galaxy but not found in our solar system.

Read the Full Gizmodo Article at:
[ https://gizmodo.com/webb-telescope-solves-a-20-year-old-planetary-mystery-sparked-by-hubble-2000542398 ]