NEW SCIENTIST ⟩ James Webb Space Telescope captured a faint but significant image of the first planet outside the Solar System

The James Webb Space Telescope has captured its initial images of HIP 65426 b, an exoplanet, revealing details of its atmosphere. Images of the planet were obtained using the telescope’s NIRCAM, MIRI, and other instruments, which detect light at different micrometers. The varying wavelengths – represented by lilac, blue, yellow, and red in the images – reflect the unique capabilities of each Webb instrument.

Each instrument utilizes a mask, known as a coronagraph, to block the light from the host star, allowing the planet to be more clearly visible. A small white dot indicates the host star’s position, which has been removed through image processing. Scientists anticipate that the telescope’s enhanced performance will lead to the observation of numerous additional exoplanets.

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