James Webb Telescope Announces First Real Image of Exoplanet K2-12B

 

The historic first-ever real image of exoplanet K2-12B was taken and shared by NASA's James Webb Space Telescope (JWST), which is a monumental step in the research on planets outside of our solar system.

Since it was discovered by the Kepler Space Telescope in 2015, K2-12B, a "mini-Neptune" exoplanet in the constellation Aquarius about 230 light-years from our planet, has been of interest.  Yet, scientists were only able to make its existence and form out based on indirect evidence to date through radial velocity observations and transit photometry.  Now, all thanks to the James Webb Space Telescope.

A New Era in Exoplanet Imaging

After months of far-space observation in JWST's Near-Infrared Camera (NIRCam) and Mid-Infrared Instrument (MIRI), the picture was unveiled today at a NASA press conference on Tuesday. The fact that the telescope can take a picture of an exoplanet directly and unobscured is what has made the win so incredible, however, since past technology could not do it because of how much brighter the host star is compared to the planet's more subdued light.

"This is a fantastic demonstration of what Webb was designed to do," said Dr. Eleanor Michaels, principal investigator for the Space Telescope Science Institute. "This is the first time we're actually observing the planet itself, not the influence of an exoplanet."

K2-12B appears in the photograph as a faint, luminous orb next to its much brighter star. For the first time, astronomers have been able to visually separate the planet from its star with this level of clarity, even though it just appears as a tiny point of light.

What We’re Learning About K2-12B

K2-12B has a dense hydrogen-rich atmosphere and is approximately 2.5 times bigger than Earth. Scientists were able to detect traces of water vapor, methane, and maybe even a whiff of carbon dioxide through this atmosphere due to the Webb telescope's infrared technology. The chemical signature provides key information about the world's composition and weather.

Dr. Michaels said, "We can reconstruct the building blocks of K2-12B's atmosphere from its infrared spectrum." "This could enable us to understand the formation and evolution of mini-Neptunes, and even perhaps the potential for life on similar planets."

A Glimpse into the Future

K2-12B's direct imaging provides new avenues for investigation of thousands of other exoplanets. The James Webb Space Telescope's mission to explore exoplanets is already proving to be one of its most thrilling regions of exploration. The telescope was released in December of 2021 with the mission of unraveling the mysteries of the early universe.

"This is only the tip of the iceberg," added Bill Nelson, NASA administrator. "Webb is going to redefine everything we know about exoplanets — not decades from now, but in the next few years."

Scientists. They will ultimately directly image smaller, possibly rocky planets, even planets close to their stars' habitable zones, where temperatures could be precisely right to harbor life, as the telescope continues to probe distant star systems.

In the meantime, the picture of K2-12B remains a breathtaking reminder of what has come and what will come in astronomy.