NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope has made another remarkable
discovery, identifying a massive planet with temperatures
potentially suitable for sustaining life, Azernews
reports, citing foreign media.
Astronomers have found evidence of a planet orbiting the young
red dwarf star known as “TWA 7” or “CE Antilae,” located
approximately 34 light-years away. This planet, named “TWA 7b,” is
estimated to have a mass about 100 times that of Earth.
Preliminary analysis by NASA suggests that TWA 7b is a young,
cold planet with an approximate temperature of 48 degrees Celsius,
conditions that could support life. However, some areas on the
planet may reach temperatures as high as 70 degrees Celsius.
An international team of astronomers observed a faint infrared
source within a debris disk surrounding the star, located roughly
50 times the distance between Earth and the Sun. Using James Webb’s
mid-infrared instrument, they employed a high-contrast imaging
technique that blocks out the star’s bright light to reveal nearby
faint objects—allowing for direct detection of planets that would
otherwise be lost in the star’s glare.
If confirmed, this would mark the first instance where a space
telescope has directly imaged a planet beyond relying on
gravitational lensing. This technique, based on Albert Einstein’s
general theory of relativity, enhances the telescope’s ability to
detect exoplanets.
NASA notes that the planet’s position aligns with predictions,
and the infrared emission is believed to originate from three dust
rings encircling TWA 7b. This discovery highlights James Webb’s
unprecedented capability to study low-mass planets around nearby
stars, expanding our understanding of planetary systems beyond our
own.