NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope has made a fascinating discovery: a rare exoplanet that challenges what we know about planetary formation. Named PSR J2322-2650b, this Jupiter-sized planet has an unusual atmosphere dominated by helium and carbon.
What’s truly stunning is that scientists believe it might have clouds made of soot and even diamond rain. “This was a total shock,” stated Peter Gao from the Carnegie Earth and Planets Laboratory. “Our team couldn’t believe the data.”
Located about 1 million miles from a pulsar—a rapidly spinning neutron star—this planet has a unique relationship with its star. Essentially, these pulsars emit beams of radiation at precise intervals, similar to how a lighthouse operates. However, because this pulsar emits mostly gamma rays, it remains invisible to Webb’s infrared technology, allowing scientists to focus solely on the exoplanet during its orbit. “We get a clear view of its spectrum, which is fantastic for our studies,” said Maya Beleznay, a PhD candidate at Stanford University.
Unlike most exoplanets that have been studied, PSR J2322-2650b presents an atmosphere unlike any other, as it contains molecular carbon (C3 and C2) rather than the typical water or methane we expect. This unexpected find is attributed to the extreme temperatures it experiences—ranging from 1,200°F at its coldest to 3,700°F at its hottest. At these temperatures, carbon tends to bind with any other atoms present, making the dominance of carbon especially unusual.
To give a bit of context, Earth is about 100 million miles away from the Sun, while PSR J2322-2650b is extremely close to its pulsar. In fact, it completes its orbit in just 7.8 hours. Its shape resembles a lemon due to the immense gravitational pull from the pulsar.
This system could be considered a “black widow” scenario, where a fast-spinning pulsar interacts with a planetary companion. While these systems typically involve a star, this one involves an exoplanet. Of the roughly 6,000 known exoplanets, this one stands out because it shares physical characteristics with gas giants while orbiting a pulsar. Very few pulsars have planets, adding to its uniqueness.
Michael Zhang from the University of Chicago mentioned, “The formation of this planet is entirely different from what we usually expect. The carbon-enriched atmosphere rules out typical planetary formation models.”
Interestingly, Roger Romani from Stanford proposes that as the planet cools, carbon and oxygen inside may crystallize, leading to pure carbon crystals mixing with helium. Yet, the exact process that keeps oxygen and nitrogen away from this environment remains a mystery. “Not knowing is part of the puzzle,” Romani said, expressing excitement for future discoveries.
The James Webb Space Telescope is key to this discovery, as its advanced technology allows it to conduct observations from over a million miles away—a task impossible from Earth. Webb aims to solve mysteries within our solar system and explore distant worlds, driven by collaboration from NASA, the European Space Agency, and the Canadian Space Agency.
This captivating exploration opens new questions about the universe, reminding us that there is still much to discover.
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Astrophysics, Exoplanet Atmosphere, Exoplanets, Goddard Space Flight Center, James Webb Space Telescope (JWST), Neutron Stars, Planetary Environments & Atmospheres, Pulsars, Science & Research
