Using the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST), astronomers have discovered that a scorching hot lava planet, believed to be made of diamond, has gained a second atmosphere – and that was after its star destroyed its first atmosphere. The planet, known as 55 Cancri e, is located about 41 light-years from the Solar System and … Read more
An illustration of satellite reentry next to a photo of polar stratospheric clouds.iStock/Getty Images Plus; Roy Rochlin/Getty Images; Insider Spacecraft that burn up in the atmosphere leave behind metal particles. Scientists are rushing to understand whether this affects the climate. One risk is that these particles could create rainbow-colored clouds that damage the ozone layer. … Read more
Scientists have discovered that a potentially habitable planet is being stripped of its atmosphere, a process that could ultimately make the world, Trappist-1e, inhospitable to life. The stripping appears to be caused by electrical currents created as the planet races around its red dwarf host star. It is an important discovery because the Trappist-1 system, … Read more
Using the Hubble Space Telescope, astronomers have discovered that the atmosphere of a relatively small planet outside the solar system is rich in water vapor. However, don’t plan a holiday to this destination yet. The planet’s surface is hot enough to melt lead, meaning it’s a steamy world inhospitable to life as we know it. … Read more
The James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) has detected methane and water vapor in the atmosphere of a Jupiter-like world about 163 light-years away. Astronomers made this discovery by using this powerful infrared space telescope to observe the planet outside the solar system.exoplanetWASP-80 b passes over the face of its red dwarf star, which it orbits … Read more