The James Webb Space Telescope has taken its first image of an exoplanet – a planet outside our solar system. while astronomers have been praising the device’s performance since its launch last year.
Images from the most powerful space telescope ever built have excited observers in recent months as it orbits the sun a million miles (1.6 million kilometers) from Earth.
Their latest groundbreaking images show that the exoplanet, named HIP65426bis a gas giant with no rocky surface and may not be habitable.
“This is a transformative moment, not just for Webb, but for astronomy in general,” said Sasha Hinkley, professor of astronomy at the University of Exeter, who led the observing team.
Webb’s infrared gaze and coronagraphs (telescopic attachments that block starlight) allow him to take direct images of exoplanets.
“It was really impressive how well Webb’s coronagraphs worked to suppress light from the host star.Hinkley said in a NASA statement Thursday.
Exoplanet HIP 65426 b is six to 12 times more massive than Jupiter and young, about 15 to 20 million years old, compared to Earth, which is 4.5 billion years old.
The telescope, which only released its first images in July, has already revealed dazzling new details about the phantom galaxy and the planet Jupiter.
The Hubble Space Telescope had previously captured direct images of exoplanets, but with much less detail.
“I think the most exciting thing is that we’re just getting started,” said Aarynn Carter of the University of California. “We might even discover previously unknown planets.”
The $10 billion Webb Telescope is a collaboration between NASA, the European Space Agency and the Canadian Space Agency. It should work for about 20 years.
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