First-time detection of carbon dioxide on distant planets offers insights on planet formation outside our solar system, observed by James Webb Space Telescope.

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For the first time ever, carbon dioxide has been detected on a planet outside of our solar system. The James Webb Space Telescope has directly observed this gas on four exoplanets within the HR 8799 system, situated 130 light-years away from Earth. These findings shed light on the formation of distant planets, suggesting that these giant planets developed similarly to Jupiter and Saturn, with solid cores slowly accumulating mass over time. The research detailing these observations was recently published in The Astronomical Journal.

Astrophysicist William Balmer, the lead author of the study from Johns Hopkins University, explains that the presence of carbon dioxide indicates a significant amount of heavier elements like carbon, oxygen, and iron in the atmospheres of these exoplanets. Based on the characteristics of the star they orbit, it is likely that they formed through core accretion, a process that is particularly intriguing when studying planets directly.

Unlike our mature 4.6 billion-year-old solar system, the HR 8799 system is relatively young, having formed just 30 million years ago. The planets within this system emit high levels of infrared light due to their recent violent formation, providing scientists with valuable insights into their formation process when compared to stars or brown dwarfs.

The ultimate goal of this research is to grasp a better understanding of not only our own solar system but also how it relates to other exoplanetary systems. By comparing different solar systems, we aim to gain insights into the uniqueness or commonalities in the formation of planets and life itself.

Carbon dioxide, a crucial ingredient for life on Earth, plays a significant role in planetary formation in outer space. As CO2 condenses into ice particles in the extreme cold of space, its presence can offer valuable clues about the processes involved in forming planets. The prevailing theory suggests that planets like Jupiter and Saturn formed by accumulating tiny icy particles to create solid cores, which then attracted gas to become the gas giants we know today.

Furthermore, Laurent Pueyo, an astronomer at the Space Telescope Science Institute, highlights that there are other indications supporting the bottom-up formation process of the four planets within the HR 8799 system. While the frequency of such formations in long-period planets that are directly observed is still unknown, further investigations utilizing the James Webb Space Telescope are proposed to explore this question.

### Unlocking the James Webb Space Telescope’s Potential

In addition to these groundbreaking discoveries, the James Webb Space Telescope has showcased its capabilities in directly analyzing the chemical composition of exoplanetary atmospheres. By utilizing coronagraphs that block starlight, the JWST can reveal hidden worlds and examine their atmospheric components.

Typically, the vast distances between exoplanets and our observation point make it challenging to detect them as they pass in front of their host stars. However, the coronagraphs on the JWST enable direct observation by filtering out starlight and allowing the study of infrared wavelengths to identify specific gases in exoplanetary atmospheres.

William Balmer compares this process to blocking the sun with a thumb, creating an eclipse-like scenario to capture the infrared light emanating from the planet and analyze its atmospheric properties. Understanding the chemical composition and formation of giant planets like those in the HR 8799 system is crucial as they can influence the dynamics, protection, and disruption of smaller planets like Earth, informing our understanding of habitable worlds in the future.

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