NASA has captured the first-ever photo of a planet outside the solar system with its James Webb Space Telescope, photographing an uninhabitable exoplanet previously discovered in 2017.
The exoplanet is a gas giant, meaning it does not have a rocky surface and cannot be lived on. However, the photograph opens the door to future similar developments, showing the Webb telescope is capable of capturing images beyond the solar system that can help further research on other distant planets.
“This is a transformative moment, not only for Webb but also for astronomy generally,” said Sasha Hinkley, associate professor of physics and astronomy at the University of Exeter in the United Kingdom. “It was really impressive how well the Webb coronagraphs worked to suppress the light of the host star.”
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