James Webb Telescope Finds Atmosphere on Scorching Exoplanet
Astronomers have made a surprising discovery.
They used the James Webb Space Telescope.
The target was an ultrahot exoplanet called TOI-561 b.
The planet lies about 280 light-years from Earth.
It orbits its star at an extremely close distance.
Yet, it still has a thick atmosphere.
This finding challenges long-held theories.
Scientists believed such planets could not retain atmospheres.
The environment is simply too harsh.
Extreme Conditions Defy Expectations
TOI-561 b is a super-Earth.
Its radius is about 1.4 times that of Earth.
It completes one orbit in just 11 hours.
The planet sits incredibly close to its star.
The distance is only one-fortieth of Mercury’s orbit.
It is tidally locked.
One side always faces the star.
The other remains in permanent darkness.
Strong stellar radiation was expected to strip away gases.
Over billions of years, the atmosphere should vanish.
But observations tell a different story.
A Volatile Mystery
Using Webb’s Near-Infrared Spectrograph, scientists measured its heat.
The dayside temperature is around 3,200 degrees Fahrenheit.
This is far cooler than expected.
A bare rocky planet should reach about 4,900 degrees.
The lower temperature hints at an atmosphere.
It appears to be dense and rich in volatile elements.
Researchers suggest it contains water vapor.
Silicate clouds may also be present.
These clouds likely reflect starlight.
That reflection helps cool the planet.
Scientists propose a delicate balance.
The atmosphere is slowly escaping into space.
At the same time, it is being replenished.
The source may be a magma ocean beneath the surface.
Gases rise as others are lost.
This discovery reshapes ideas about planetary evolution.
It shows atmospheres can survive even in extreme worlds.
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