The James Webb has observed the surface of an exoplanet for the first time

Added: 2026-05-16

[00:00:00]The James Webb Space Telescope has achieved another breakthrough in astronomy.

[00:00:04]For the first time, scientists have directly analyzed the surface composition of a planet outside our solar system.

[00:00:10]The object of study was the super-Earth LHS 3844b, located 50 light-years away.

[00:00:19]The planet is approximately 30% larger than Earth. It orbits a cool red dwarf star at an incredible speed. A year on this planet lasts only 11 hours.

[00:00:28]>> [music] >> Due to its proximity to the star, it is tidally locked, always keeping the same side facing [music] the star.

[00:00:34]Temperatures on its day side reach 725°C.

[00:00:38]The data confirmed that LHS 3844b [music] is a dark, barren rock completely devoid of an atmosphere.

[00:00:44]The data indicates a surface composed of dark volcanic rocks, basalts rich in iron and magnesium. A similar landscape is characteristic of the moon and Mercury.