NASA Discovers Exoplanet With Atmosphere Composed Of Helium, Carbon, And Soot Clouds That Can Form…

In a groundbreaking discovery, scientists utilizing NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope have identified an extraordinary exoplanet, PSR J2322-2650b, boasting an unprecedented atmospheric composition. This peculiar world, with a mass comparable to that of Jupiter, is enveloped in a helium-and-carbon-dominated atmosphere, a phenomenon unlike any previously observed.

Characterized by soot clouds suspended in the air, this exoplanet harbors a unique feature: deep within its atmosphere, carbon clouds can condense and form diamonds. The planet orbits a rapidly spinning neutron star, an entity described by Michael Zhang, principal investigator and University of Chicago researcher, as “the mass of the Sun, but the size of a city.” The neutron star emits beams of electromagnetic radiation at regular intervals, predominantly in the form of gamma rays and high-energy particles. However, these emissions are invisible to the Webb telescope’s infrared vision, allowing scientists to study the planet in intricate detail across its entire orbit.

This system presents a rare opportunity for scientists to analyze the planet without the overwhelming brightness of its host star. Maya Beleznay, a Stanford University graduate student, noted that “this system is unique because we are able to view the planet illuminated by its host star, but not see the host star at all.