James Webb Telescope Detects Carbon Dioxide in Exoplanet Atmosphere (2024)

The James Webb Space Telescope has, for the first time, directly imaged carbon dioxide in the atmosphere of an exoplanet. The exoplanet is located approximately 130 light-years from Earth. The discovery marks the first direct detection of carbon dioxide outside of our solar system. The HR 8799 planetary system, only about 30 million years old, has long been of interest to astronomers, especially in the study of planet formation. The system contains four gas giants. Observations indicate a significant abundance of carbon dioxide in exoplanet atmospheres, suggesting formation processes similar to those of Jupiter and Saturn in our solar system. These findings also demonstrate Webb's ability to determine atmospheric composition through imaging, complementing its spectroscopic capabilities. Researchers note the presence of heavier elements, such as carbon, oxygen, and iron, in exoplanet atmospheres.