Scientists have used the Webb Space Telescope for the first time to use the planetary transit method to find an exoplanet orbiting another star, officially named LHS 475 b, which is nearly the exact size of Earth.
After scrutinizing data from the Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS) that suggested the existence of the planet LHS 475 b in the Antarctic constellation, scientists decided to submit it to the Webb Space Telescope for verification. It is easy to confirm that this planet is 41 light-years away from us and orbits its parent star every 2 days. Since the temperature of this star is less than half that of the sun, although LHS 475 b is very close to the star, it is still possible to maintain an atmosphere.
Among all currently operating telescopes, only the Webb telescope can describe the atmospheric characteristics of terrestrial exoplanets. The team is working hard to analyze the spectrum to determine whether LHS 475 b has an atmosphere. Although it is not yet possible to draw any clear conclusions, it can basically be ruled out. It has a methane-dominated atmosphere, similar to Titan’s.
The Webb observations also suggest that the planet LHS 475 b is hundreds of degrees hotter than Earth, and if any clouds are detected at LHS 475 b, it may be more like Venus — with a carbon dioxide atmosphere.
(Source of the first picture:ESA）