JWST maps distinct weather on distant hot gas giant

May 21, 2026

Reported by AI

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.

A team led by Sagnick Mukherjee at Johns Hopkins University employed limb-resolved spectroscopy with JWST's NIRISS instrument. They split the transmission signals from the morning and evening limbs during the planet's transit, uncovering high-altitude aerosols on the morning side and water vapor on the evening side.

James Webb Space Telescope finds differing twilights on exoplanet

Astronomers using the James Webb Space Telescope have detected clear differences between the morning and evening sides of the ultra-hot exoplanet WASP-121 b. The observations show that the evening terminator is hotter and more expanded than the morning side.

James Webb Space Telescope detects salt clouds on Pink Planet

June 28, 2026 Reported by AI

Astronomers have used the James Webb Space Telescope to reveal salt clouds in the atmosphere of GJ 504 b, a cold planetary-mass companion known as the Pink Planet.

Science

Mysterious substance detected on surfaces of Titan and Pluto

Science

James Webb telescope reveals clearest map of cosmic web

Science

Webb telescope detects methane on interstellar comet

Astronomers detect first atmosphere on temperate rocky exoplanet

For the first time, astronomers have found an atmosphere surrounding a rocky, temperate exoplanet that could potentially support life. The planet, LHS 1140b, lies about 50 light years from Earth.

JWST images reveal supermassive black hole feeding cycle

July 18, 2026 Reported by AI

New observations from the James Webb Space Telescope have provided detailed views of gas feeding a supermassive black hole in galaxy NGC 4696. The data show filaments channeling material into a rotating disk around the black hole. Researchers say the findings support a self-regulating fuel cycle.

July 23, 2026 23:36