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Webb just revealed how a controversial planet exists


Published on 2024-12-17 05:42:26 - Mashable
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  • The Webb team set out to study early planetary disks by homing in on the Small Magellanic Cloud, a dwarf galaxy near the Milky Way. Planetary disks are the clouds of gas and dust surrounding young stars that can eventually coalesce to form baby worlds.

The article from Mashable discusses the discovery of what might be the oldest known planet, observed by the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST). This planet, named HD149026b, orbits a star in the constellation Hercules and is estimated to be around 13.8 billion years old, nearly as old as the universe itself. The planet is a gas giant, similar in size to Saturn but with a much higher density, suggesting it has a large core of heavy elements. This finding challenges existing theories about planet formation, as it implies that planets could form much earlier in the universe's history than previously thought. The JWST's advanced infrared capabilities allowed astronomers to analyze the planet's atmosphere, revealing details about its composition and providing insights into the early conditions of planetary systems. This discovery not only pushes back the timeline for when planets could form but also enhances our understanding of the universe's evolutionary processes.

Read the Full Mashable Article at:
[ https://mashable.com/article/james-webb-space-telescope-oldest-known-planet ]