Edinburgh: NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope has discovered a planet that scientists claim has never been seen before in the history of astronomy.
The $10 billion telescope observed VHS 1256b, about 40 light-years away from Earth. With a temperature of 815 degrees Celsius, the planet’s atmosphere consists of hot dust clouds that constantly rise, coalesce and move during the 22-hour day.
A team of scientists led by Brittany Miles of the University of Arizona also identified fresh water, methane and carbon monoxide in the planet using data from the telescope. Evidence of the presence of carbon dioxide in the planet has also been found.
The planet, which came into being only 150 million years ago, scientists believe that its young age explains why the sky of this planet is so stormy.
No other telescope to date has pinpointed so many features simultaneously in a single galaxy, study co-author Andrew Schemmer of the University of California, Santa Cruz, said in a statement.
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