exoplanets

Sub-Neptunes are very good at hiding their secrets: many show flat spectra that could indicate multiple possibilities for their atmospheric composition. Yet some of these same worlds are caught in the act of losing hydrogen or helium to space. Could their escaping atmospheres reveal what their deceptively featureless spectra are hiding?

Astronomers have found a planet that does not fit the rules scientists expected it to follow. How did such an unusual world come to exist?

In a study appearing today in Astrophysical Journal Letters, the scientists report on new measurements of the mini-Neptune’s atmosphere, made using NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope (JWST). It is the first time astronomers have measured the composition of a mini-Neptune that resides inside the orbit of a hot Jupiter. Their measurements reveal that the smaller […]

Gliese 523b (GJ 523b) is a young, ultra-dense planet that orbits almost perpendicular to its star’s spin, according to a team of U.S. astronomers. The post Astronomers Discover Rare ‘Mega-Earth’ Exoplanet: Gliese 523b appeared first on Sci.News: Breaking Science News .

[astro-ph.EP] HATS-6 b is one of several recently discovered Giant Exoplanets orbiting M-dwarf Stars (GEMS) and is part of a JWST survey that aims to compare bulk and atmospheric properties […] The post GEMS JWST: HATS(-6 b): A Sub-solar Metallicity Giant Planet With Water, Methane And Ammonia In Its Atmosphere appeared first on Astrobiology .

KOI-884 e is a gas giant exoplanet that orbits a K-type star. Its mass is 2.42 Jupiters, it takes 59.9 days to complete one orbit of its star, and is 0.28769382022711 AU from its star. Its discovery was announced in 2014. The post KOI-884 e appeared first on NASA Science .

From what I can gather, Freddie Mercury—the rightfully celebrated lead singer of Queen—was about the same height as I am. So while I’m certainly not Freddie Mercury’s twin, would you say I’m Freddie Mercury–like? Besides having our heights in common, I also am male, have facial hair and can carry a tune (though at that, I am not a champion). Weirdly, we both also worked with rock stars named Bria…

For the first time, we have a potentially habitable world close enough to actually study—and at just 10.7 light-years away, it's nearly within reach of our most ambitious telescopes.

[astro-ph.EP] The TRAPPIST-1 system has been thoroughly observed with JWST. Unfortunately, stellar contamination issues strongly limit the interpretation of transit observations. As for emission observations, only the two closest planets […] The post Looking For TRAPPIST-1 External Planets’ Emission In JWST Archival Data appeared first on Astrobiology .

[astro-ph.EP] In just over three years of operation, JWST has observed all seven planets of the TRAPPIST-1 system. The two innermost planets were found to have little to no atmosphere, […] The post Atmospheric Reconnaissance of TRAPPIST-1 f with JWST NIRISS SOSS: No Evidence for the Transit Light Source Effect appeared first on Astrobiology .

Some signs of an alien civilization are easier to spot than signs of life itself. On technosignatures, from CFCs and industrial gases to the pandemic dip in pollution, and why Earth's most detectable moment might be right now.