NASA has been tracking a completely new, unprecedented planet within its solar system, which is seven-point-eight times larger than our planet.
The exoplanet, known as GJ 1214b, was initially discovered in 2009 by the Hubble Space Telescope, but thanks to the James Webb Space Telescope, researchers have now gained fresh insights into its composition.
GJ 1214b has been classified as a super-Earth due to its size—a term used for planets smaller than Neptune but larger than Earth.
This type of planet, characterized by its distinctive composition, is identified only beyond our solar system.
"GJ 1214b has been the highly sought-after exoplanet for atmospheric characterization – a full decade, in fact, that the global community has been pursuing it. It's exciting to finally uncover its hidden secrets," says Laura Kreidberg, a researcher at the Max Planck Institute for Astronomy in Heidelberg, Germany.
(QG - The Daily Star / Picture: Unsplash)
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