The James Webb Space Telescope has captured the first direct image of an exoplanet, according to the space agency American NASA in a Thursday publication.
The image taken is of a gas giant planet that is not habitable according to the concept of humans.
NASA quoted Sasha Hinckley, a professor of astrophysics at the University of Exeter, as saying that what Achieved by James Webb “consists of a turning point not only for him but for astronomy in general.”
It is more than the size of the named planet.HIP 65426 b» Jupiter is 6 to 12 times the size, an estimate that the telescope should confirm.
NASA stated that the planet, which dates back between 15 and 20 years, is small compared to the planets, specifically land dating back to 4,5 billion years.
This is not the first time that a direct image of a planet outside the solar system has been taken The “Hubble” spacecraft, which was launched in 1990 and is still in operation, has accomplished this mission .
NASA explained that this image “would show the path that James Webb should follow in the sky.” Planetary exploration process.
She added that James Webb’s ability to capture the image “indicates the existence of future possibilities for studies of distant worlds.” ».
The image was published in four copies, each with a different optical filter.
The planet was easily distinguished from its star thanks to the great distance separating them.
Arin Carter, a researcher at the University of California, Santa Cruz who has analyzed the footage, said: “Getting this picture was like searching for treasure in space.”
