The search for exoplanets is one of the most important goals of astronomers in the 21st century. Exoplanets can provide us with crucial information about how planets form and help us understand our own planet a little better.
For the very first time, the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) has successfully assisted in the discovery of a new exoplanet. This exoplanet, known as TWA 7 b, is described in Nature as being located in the debris disk of a star and having the smallest mass of any planet observed via direct imagery. The discovery is an exciting scientific development and showcases another way the powerful JWST is changing our view of the universe.
“This observatory enables us to capture images of planets with masses similar to those in our solar system, which represents an exciting step forward in our understanding of planetary systems, including our own,” said co-author Mathilde Malin, of Johns Hopkins University and the Space Telescope Science Institute, in a press release.
