The 'white whale' planet was observed for the first time by a $10 billion telescope

Studying distant planets makes it difficult for scientists not only because of their physical distance, but also because they can harbor properties that make observation and analysis much more complicated. . Even within the solar system, for example, we currently have very little information about the surface of Venus, because its dense atmosphere makes observation challenging. Fifty light-years away, the planet GJ 1214 b is equally complex. This planet has defied the observational efforts of astronomers worldwide over the past 15 years since it became known.

But that was when the James Webb 'super telescope' was not yet operational. Since the late 1990s, NASA has worked with the European Space Agency to develop James Webb, at a cost of about 10 billion USD. James Webb is the most powerful and modern telescope ever created by man, and is expected to provide unprecedentedly detailed images of the universe, helping scientists explore, find understand the universe as well as life beyond Earth.

Unsurprisingly, James Webb was able to peer into GJ 1214 b's atmosphere for the first time, helping scientists partially lift the veil of this mysterious planet.

GJ 1214 b is also known as Neptune in miniature because it possesses a thick Neptune-like atmosphere and ice layers and is three times the diameter of Earth. Scientists believe the planet is likely to contain a lot of water, but much of it is in the atmosphere rather than on the surface because the surface temperatures are so high that liquid oceans cannot exist. .

It is water vapor that may have contributed to GJ 1214 b's atmosphere becoming extremely opaque, making observations difficult. However, the main culprit compound causing the reflection phenomenon is still unknown. The planet is completely covered with fog or a dense layer of clouds.

To observe GJ 1214 b, the researchers used James Webb's Mid-Infrared Instrument (MIRI) system. Since then, temperature changes across the planet have been recorded in relative detail, showing the difference between the hot daytime side always facing towards the host star, while the cooler night side faces outwards. time. Along with learning about the composition of the atmosphere, scientists were also able to determine that the average temperature of the planet is 230 degrees Celsius.

Scientists have described GJ 1214 b as a 'white whale' - the color that characterizes the planet's atmosphere. Basically, understanding the atmosphere of an exoplanet is very important, not only to understand how the planet is now, but also to know how it formed in the past.

Micah Soto

Update 27 June 2023