Astronomers using NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope have studied the atmosphere of TOI-199b, a rare Saturn-sized planet with temperatures around 175 degrees Fahrenheit. The findings mark the first detailed look at a temperate giant exoplanet.
The planet orbits a star more than 330 light-years from Earth and completes one orbit every 100 days. Researchers detected methane in its atmosphere using transmission spectroscopy during a seven-hour transit observed over 20 hours total.
Astronomers using the James Webb Space Telescope have detected an unusually metal-poor atmosphere on the Jupiter-sized exoplanet TOI-5205 b, which orbits a small, cool star. The planet's atmospheric metallicity is lower than that of its host star, challenging theories of giant planet formation. The findings come from a study led by researchers at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center and Carnegie Science.
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Astronomers used the James Webb Space Telescope to study the atmosphere of WASP-94A b, a tidally locked gas giant 690 light-years away. The observations revealed cloudy mornings and clear evenings on the planet. The findings were published in Science.
Astronomers at the University of Warwick have used a new AI system called RAVEN to confirm more than 100 exoplanets from NASA's Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS) data. The discoveries include 31 newly identified worlds, many orbiting close to their stars, along with thousands of candidates. The findings reveal rare planet types and precise measurements of planetary occurrence rates around Sun-like stars.
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New research indicates that hidden oceans on icy moons around outer planets may boil due to tidal heating, explaining unusual surface features. The study, published in Nature Astronomy, focuses on smaller moons like Enceladus, Mimas, and Miranda. Lead author Max Rudolph from UC Davis highlights the processes shaping these worlds over millions of years.
About 65 percent of Saturn's moon Titan consists of uniform flat plains likely coated in up to a meter of fluffy organic material from its atmosphere. Researchers analyzing radar data from NASA's Cassini spacecraft propose a two-layer surface model. This finding could inform future missions to the hazy moon.