Trending Now - Webb Telescope Detects Unusual Atmosphere on Ancient Super Earth

WHO:

NASA, James Webb Space Telescope, astronomers

WHAT:

Astronomers discovered a thick atmosphere surrounding the planet TOI-561 b.

The planet was previously thought to be too extreme to retain any gas.

The year on TOI-561 b lasts just over 10 hours.

One side of TOI-561 b is locked in eternal daylight.

The planet may be rich in volatile materials and behaves like a “wet lava ball.”

WHERE:

TOI-561 b, an ancient super Earth located outside of our solar system.

WHEN:

The findings were reported in 2026.

WHY:

The discovery suggests that the planet is far cooler than expected for a bare rock, indicating a heat-distributing atmosphere above a churning magma ocean.

HOW:

The atmosphere was detected using NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope.

(UPDATED March 22, 2026 23:22 UTC)

Astronomers using NASA's James Webb Space Telescope have made an exciting discovery of a thick atmosphere surrounding the planet TOI-561 b, which was previously believed to be too extreme to retain any gas. This ancient super Earth, located outside our solar system, has a year that lasts just over 10 hours, with one side locked in eternal daylight, and it may be rich in volatile materials, behaving like a “wet lava ball.” The findings, reported in 2026, suggest that TOI-561 b is far cooler than expected for a bare rock, indicating a heat-distributing atmosphere above a churning magma ocean.