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JWST ruled out finding tiny moons around an exoplanet—that's great news
Confirmed
In Short: The James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) has proven capable of detecting exomoons, challenging previous limitations and opening new avenues for exoplanet research.
The James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) has expanded our understanding of the cosmos, and a new paper by Columbia University astronomer David Kipping suggests it can also detect exomoons, moons orbiting exoplanets in other star systems. This capability was previously thought to be beyond the telescope's reach.
Kipping analyzed data from JWST on the exoplanet LP 890-9 c, demonstrating the potential for detecting these theoretical moons. Previous efforts to find exomoons relied on a single transit, but JWST's advanced technology allows for more detailed observations.
For instance, JWST observed the gas giant exoplanet Kepler-167 e, though no moons were found. The telescope also monitored the Hot Jupiter HD 80606 b, which orbits an ultra-cool red dwarf star, revealing the planet's extreme temperature changes as it approaches its host star.
Team member Ryan Challener of the Cornell Center for Astrophysics and Planetary Science praised the JWST's advancements, stating, 'Spitzer did amazing work on this exoplanet, and now the JWST is building on that legacy by enabling us to drill down to distinguish specific chemical signatures like methane and carbon dioxide, which is just amazing progress.
What's confirmed
- The James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) has expanded our understanding of the cosmos, and a new paper by Columbia University astronomer David Kipping suggests it can also detect exomoons, moons orbiting exoplanets in other star systems. This capability was previously thought to be beyond the telescope's reach.
- Kipping analyzed data from JWST on the exoplanet LP 890-9 c, demonstrating the potential for detecting these theoretical moons. Previous efforts to find exomoons relied on a single transit, but JWST's advanced technology allows for more detailed observations.
- For instance, JWST observed the gas giant exoplanet Kepler-167 e, though no moons were found. The telescope also monitored the Hot Jupiter HD 80606 b, which orbits an ultra-cool red dwarf star, revealing the planet's extreme temperature changes as it approaches its host star.
- Team member Ryan Challener of the Cornell Center for Astrophysics and Planetary Science praised the JWST's advancements, stating, 'Spitzer did amazing work on this exoplanet, and now the JWST is building on that legacy by enabling us to drill down to distinguish specific chemical signatures like methane and carbon dioxide, which is just amazing progress.
What's still developing
- To prove the point, Dr. Kipping analyzed a bunch of data JWST collected on a planet called LP 890-9 c.
- For example, JWST watched the gas giant Kepler-167 e, hoping to spot a small moon in orbit around it.
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- Using the JWST's MIRI (Mid-Infrared Instrument), the team observed this Hot Jupiter before, during, and after its close approach to its parent star, HD 80606.
- This required a great deal of planning given the extremely elliptical orbit of HD 80606 b.
- "The JWST has shown that the planet’s increase in temperature was even more extreme than we anticipated based on Spitzer data," Kataria said.
- A lurid NASA poster depiucting the predicament of exoplanet HD 80606 b.
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