Astronomers have discovered a new exoplanet that shatters existing classifications of planetary types. Enaiposha, located 47 light-years away, was once thought to be a typical mini-Neptune but recent observations using the James Webb Space Telescope reveal it’s something entirely different – a “super-Venus” with a thick, haze-filled atmosphere.
The study published in The Astrophysical Journal Letters suggests that Enaiposha may be a missing link in understanding planetary evolution, offering insights into how exoplanets transition between different atmospheric states. Its dense haze, metal-rich air, and unique chemical composition raise new questions about planetary formation, evolution, and atmospheric retention.
Detecting carbon dioxide, water vapor, and complex metal-rich molecules in the planet’s atmosphere, scientists found that Enaiposha’s chemical composition is more diverse than expected. This discovery indicates that not all mini-Neptunes are the same – some may evolve into something completely different over time.
The extreme haze covering Enaiposha’s atmosphere takes it even further than Venus’s thick cloud layers. Scientists using JWST’s transmission spectroscopy found that the upper layers of Enaiposha’s atmosphere are filled with aerosols and complex molecules, making it difficult to determine what lies beneath.
The presence of carbon dioxide and methane is particularly intriguing, as these gases are often linked to biological and geological activity on Earth. Studying how these gases behave in extreme planetary environments could provide insights into how atmospheres evolve on other worlds, including potentially habitable exoplanets.
If Enaiposha represents an intermediate stage in planetary evolution, it offers valuable clues about how planets form, evolve, and retain their atmospheres over time. The ability to detect and study these transitional worlds could reveal new insights into planetary formation, atmospheric retention, and potentially habitable exoplanets.
Source: https://dailygalaxy.com/2025/03/astronomers-exoplanet-unlike-anything