NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope has made an exciting discovery: a planet the size of Jupiter named PSR J2322-2650b, shaped like a lemon! This isn’t just a fun shape; it’s a planet with an unusual atmosphere made mostly of helium and carbon.
According to NASA, this carbon can even form diamond clouds deep inside the planet. Imagine clouds made of diamonds shimmering in the atmosphere!
The planet orbits a tiny, unique star that has the mass of our Sun but is the size of a city. Michael Zhang, a researcher from the University of Chicago, describes this star’s oddity as part of why the planet is pulled into its strange shape. PSR J2322-2650b is remarkably close to its star—about one hundred times closer than Earth is to the Sun. This strong gravitational pull contributes to its lemon-like appearance.
This discovery brings up interesting connections to popular culture. Music fans might recall that the band The National wrote a song about a fictional place called Lemonworld. It’s fascinating how art can echo the mysteries of science!
The discovery of PSR J2322-2650b adds to our knowledge of exoplanets—planets outside our solar system. A recent study found that over 5,000 exoplanets have been discovered so far. It shows just how vibrant and diverse the universe really is. Who knows what other mysteries await us among the stars?
For more details on this amazing find, you can read further from NASA’s insights here.
