The James Webb Space Telescope confirmed the exoplanet LHS 475 b, which is almost the same size as Earth.
exoplanets are made up of elements similar to planets in our solar system, but their mixes of elements could differ. Sign up for our trending newsletter to get the latest news of the dayThe planet discovered by the Webb telescope is almost the same size as Earth; its diameter is 99% the same as our planet.
It's a terrestrial, rocky planet about 41 light-years from Earth in the constellation Octans. It differs from Earth in that it completes an orbit in just two days and is hundreds of degrees hotter than Earth. It's also the closer to its star than any planet in our solar system is to the sun, although its star is less than half the temperature of the sun.
Researchers said they have been able to rule out it having a thick methane-dominated atmosphere, but it's possible the planet either has no atmosphere or a pure 100% carbon dioxide atmosphere. If researchers could confirm clouds exist on LHS 475 b, they may conclude the planet is similar to Venus, which has a carbon dioxide atmosphere and thick clouds.
"These first observational results from an Earth-size rocky planet open the door to many future possibilities for studying rocky planet atmospheres with Webb," said Mark Clampin, astrophysics division director at NASA headquarters. "Webb is bringing us closer and closer to a new understanding of Earth-like worlds outside our solar system, and the mission is only just getting started.
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