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NASA's Webb Measures the Temperature of a Rocky Exoplanet

Release date: Monday, March 27, 2023 11:00:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time

NASA's Webb Measures the Temperature of a Rocky Exoplanet



The amount of infrared light coming from TRAPPIST-1 b suggests that the planet is devoid of any significant atmosphere.  

Acting as a giant touch-free thermometer, NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope has successfully measured heat radiating from the innermost of the seven rocky planets orbiting TRAPPIST-1, a cool red dwarf star 40 light-years from Earth. With a dayside temperature of 450 degrees Fahrenheit, the planet is just about perfect for baking pizza. But with no atmosphere to speak of, it may not be the best spot to dine out. The result is the first from a comprehensive set of Webb studies of the TRAPPIST-1 system, and marks an important step in determining whether planets orbiting tiny but violent red dwarfs, the most common type of star in the Galaxy, can sustain atmospheres needed to support life.



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Find additional articles, images, and videos at WebbTelescope.org



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