Astronomers have identified an exoplanet with temperatures as low as -125 degrees Fahrenheit, making it the coldest planet detected to date. The planet, called WD 1856+534 b, is a gas giant and nearly six times more massive than Jupiter. Recently observed using the James Webb Space Telescope, the average temperature of this exoplanet is significantly lower than that of other planets in our solar system.
According to scientists, temperatures as low as 5 degrees Fahrenheit can support life, but only a few organisms can complete their life cycle at such low temperatures. Currently, no planet has been detected with a surface temperature below 35.33 degrees Fahrenheit. The researchers used the James Webb Space Telescope’s advanced infrared optics and spectrometers to gather information about this exoplanet.
WD 1856+534 b is also notable for being the first transiting planet known to orbit a white dwarf star, which is the hot remnant of a star that has exhausted its nuclear fuels. This exoplanet orbits a K-type star, a cooler and less massive version of our sun, in just 1.4 days. The discovery of this exoplanet highlights the potential for advanced telescopes like the James Webb Space Telescope to detect habitable planets outside our solar system.
Future observations are planned for 2025, which may identify additional planets orbiting this star. NASA’s Habitable Worlds Observatory, set to launch in May 2027, will specifically target Earth-like planets around Sun-like stars. This discovery underscores the importance of continued space exploration and the potential for future breakthroughs in understanding our universe.
Source: https://www.yahoo.com/news/exoplanet-discovered-2020-coldest-temperatures-193556060.html