JWST Atmospheric Analysis

The James Webb Space Telescope has revolutionized exoplanet science by analyzing atmospheres in unprecedented detail. By measuring starlight filtered through a planet's atmosphere during transit, JWST can identify specific molecules including water vapor, carbon dioxide, methane, and sulfur dioxide.

In 2022, JWST detected CO2 in the atmosphere of WASP-39b, a hot Jupiter 700 light-years away — the first unambiguous detection of this gas on an exoplanet. For smaller, rocky planets in habitable zones, JWST can potentially detect biosignature gases. Each observation pushes us closer to answering whether we are alone.