Shulou(Shulou.com)11/24 Report--

On August 26, astronomers recently used NASA's James Webb Space Telescope to detect evidence of carbon dioxide outside the solar system.

Astronomers are targeting a gaseous giant planet called WASP-39b, about 700 light-years from Earth, orbiting a sun-like star. It is reported that the temperature on the surface of WASP-39b is always maintained at around 900C. Although astronomers discovered the gaseous giant as early as 2011, the highly sensitive infrared detection instruments of the Weber Space Telescope allowed researchers to analyze WASP-39b in detail, detecting the presence of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere of the gaseous giant for the first time.

To better understand exoplanets, researchers use space telescopes to measure the chemical composition of exoplanet atmospheres. Molecules in the atmosphere cause certain characteristic wavelengths of light to be absorbed, so the researchers analyzed in depth how light emitted by stars is filtered by WASP-39b 's atmosphere, and used these characteristic wavelengths to detect key gas components in the planet's atmosphere.

▲ data map

On July 10, astronomers used the NIRSpec near infrared spectrometer carried by the Weber Space Telescope to detect gases and chemicals in the WASP-39b atmosphere.

"when I saw the data, the obvious characteristics of carbon dioxide caught my attention," said Zafar-Ul Rustankulov, a planetary scientist and member of the transit exoplanets team. "this is a special moment that crosses an important threshold for exoplanet science."

Astronomer Natalie Batalla, head of the transit exoplanet research team, said: "the detection of such a clear signal of carbon dioxide on WASP-39b indicates that we will gain more from detecting the atmospheres of smaller Earth-like planets."

Carbon dioxide is related to life on earth. When astronomers look for life in distant worlds, they usually look for the basic components that sustain life, such as liquid water, a steady stream of energy, carbon and other elements.

When NASA released the first Weber Space Telescope images on July 12, they included data showing water in the atmospheres of exoplanets in WASP-39b, as well as evidence of clouds and fog on the planets.

The equipment on the Weber Space Telescope can take a deep look at the atmosphere of distant planets, so astronomers will make more discoveries.

Lisa Kaltenegger, professor of astronomy at Cornell University and director of the Karl Sagan Institute, said, "with the James Webb Space Telescope, we can explore the chemical composition of other world atmospheres that may have signs that we can only explain with life."

"this is a magical moment for us to explore the universe," Carteng added. "are we the only planets in the universe where life exists? this magical space telescope is the first tool to collect enough light so that we can begin to solve this basic problem."

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