Astronomers using the James Webb Space Telescope have detected the faint glow of an exoplanet, WD 1856+534 b, which is colder than any world directly observed before. The exoplanet, about six times more massive and twice as old as our solar system, orbits a white dwarf star at just 0.02 astronomical units away. Its average temperature is -125° Fahrenheit (-87°C), making it the coldest exoplanet ever detected by its own emitted light.
The team’s research shows that planetary migration into close orbits around white dwarfs is possible, providing direct evidence for this phenomenon. The discovery also settles a lingering identity crisis, confirming WD 1856 b as a full-fledged exoplanet rather than a low-mass brown dwarf.
This detection demonstrates the James Webb Space Telescope’s ability to study cold, mature planets and shows that even worlds orbiting dead stars can still glow faintly. The team’s findings have significant implications for our understanding of planetary formation and the potential for life in extreme environments.
Source: https://gizmodo.com/the-coldest-planet-ever-seen-is-circling-a-stellar-corpse-2000596532