NASA Webb Telescope Discovers Unique Exoplanet With Unusual Shape And Composition Orbiting A Pulsar

Scientists have discovered a unique exoplanet, PSR J2322-2650b, using the NASA Webb Telescope. This Jupiter-sized gas giant orbits a pulsar, a dense and rapidly spinning star. The planet’s close proximity to the pulsar, just one million miles away, results in an unusual lemon-like shape due to the star’s gravitational pull.

The exoplanet’s composition is equally remarkable, being devoid of common elements such as hydrogen, oxygen, and nitrogen. Instead, it is primarily composed of helium and molecular carbon, making it a “helium- and carbon-dominated world,” according to Peter Gao, an exoplanet scientist at the Carnegie Institution for Science. The planet’s orbit is completed in just eight hours, and it is the only gas giant known to orbit a pulsar.

The Webb telescope’s infrared capabilities allowed researchers to study the planet’s atmosphere, providing insights into its unusual shape and composition. This groundbreaking discovery has shed new light on the diversity of exoplanets and their unique characteristics. The study, published in The Astrophysical Journal Letters, was led by Michael Zhang, an exoplanet scientist at the University of Chicago. Further research and exploration of this extraordinary exoplanet will continue to unravel its secrets, offering a fascinating glimpse into the vast expanse of ← →