Astronomers using NASA's James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) have taken a close look at the atmosphere of a rare giant planet with temperatures surprisingly similar to those on Earth. The Saturn sized world, known as TOI-199b, contains methane in its atmosphere, according to a new study.
The discovery stands out because giant planets are usually found at temperature extremes. In our solar system, Jupiter and Saturn are extremely cold because they orbit far from the sun. Many giant exoplanets discovered beyond our solar system are "hot Jupiters," worlds that circle very close to their stars and reach blistering temperatures of thousands of degrees.
TOI-199b falls somewhere in between. It is one of only a small number of known temperate giant planets, and researchers say this is the first time the atmosphere of one has been studied in such detail.
The findings could help scientists improve models of how planets and atmospheres form and evolve. Researchers also say the work may eventually provide new insight into Earth's own atmosphere.
The study, led by scientists from Penn State and NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) at the California Institute of Technology, was published May 20 in the Astronomical Journal.
