planetary formation

NASA’s Webb Telescope Reveals Secrets of Sub-Neptunes

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It proves that sub-Neptunes — once considered almost impossible to analyze — can now be studied in detail, at least under the right conditions.

Introduction: NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) is unlocking the secrets of one of the universe’s most common — yet elusive — types of exoplanets: sub-Neptunes. Though not found in our own solar system, these planets dominate the catalog of exoplanets in our galaxy. They are larger than Earth but smaller than Neptune, and until … Read more

Carbon Dioxide in Exoplanets: NASA’s Webb Telescope Unveils Giant Worlds

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The HR 8799 system, a youthful 30-million-year-old stellar nursery, is a goldmine for studying carbon dioxide in exoplanets.

Introduction Why HR 8799 Stands Out How Webb Captures the Evidence Carbon Dioxide in Exoplanets: Core Accretion vs. Disk Instability Carbon Dioxide in Exoplanets: A Peek at 51 Eridani Why It’s a Cosmic Clue Carbon Dioxide in Exoplanets: What’s Next for Webb Led by NASA with partners ESA and the Canadian Space Agency, Webb is … Read more