Artist's rendering of potentially habitable exoplanets, plus Earth (top right) and Mars (top center). Image credit: PHL@UPR Arecibo (phl.upr.edu), ESA/Hubble, NASA.
March 08, 2023
According to the James Webb Space Telescope weekly schedule for this week, the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) is set to observe six exoplanet systems this week, including HD-134004, SR-12-C, GSC6214-210-B, TOI-836, HR-2562, and WASP-17. Let's take a closer look at each of these objects and what we hope to learn from studying them.
HD-134004 is a binary star system located approximately 183 light-years from Earth in the constellation of Serpens. The system consists of a sun-like star and a red dwarf star that orbit around a common center of mass. The exoplanet HD-134004b was discovered in 2005 using the radial velocity method, and it has a mass of approximately 0.72 times that of Jupiter. JWST observations of this system could help us to better understand the dynamics of binary star systems and the formation and evolution of gas giant planets.
SR-12-C is another binary star system located in the Serpens constellation, approximately 2,300 light-years from Earth. The system is composed of two stars that are much more massive than the Sun, and it also has a protoplanetary disk of gas and dust around it. The disk has a large central hole, and there are signs that one or more planets may be forming within it. JWST observations of this system could provide valuable insights into how planets form around massive stars.
GSC6214-210-B is a white dwarf star located approximately 1,000 light-years from Earth in the constellation of Hydra. The star is orbited by a massive gas giant planet that was discovered in 2019 using the radial velocity method. The planet, which has a mass of approximately 8.5 times that of Jupiter, orbits the star every 20 hours and is being slowly consumed by its host star. JWST observations of this system could help us to better understand the process of planet engulfment and the fate of planets around dying stars.
TOI-836 is a star located approximately 200 light-years from Earth in the constellation of Carina. The star is orbited by a transiting exoplanet that was discovered in 2021 using the TESS mission. The planet, which has a radius of approximately 1.4 times that of Earth, is likely a rocky planet with a surface temperature of around 1,000 degrees Celsius. JWST observations of this system could help us to better understand the composition and atmospheric properties of rocky exoplanets.
HR-2562 is a single star located approximately 119 light-years from Earth in the constellation of Aquarius. The star is orbited by a hot Jupiter exoplanet that was discovered in 2006 using the radial velocity method. The planet, which has a mass of approximately 0.67 times that of Jupiter, orbits the star every 2.2 days and has a surface temperature of around 1,400 degrees Celsius. JWST observations of this system could help us to better understand the atmospheric properties and thermal emission of hot Jupiter exoplanets.
WASP-17 is a star located approximately 1,000 light-years from Earth in the constellation of Scorpius. The star is orbited by a hot Jupiter exoplanet that was discovered in 2009 using the transit method. The planet, which has a mass of approximately 0.49 times that of Jupiter, orbits the star every 3.7 days and has a surface temperature of around 1,500 degrees Celsius. JWST observations of this system could help us to better understand the atmospheric properties and thermal emission of hot Jupiter exoplanets.
Overall, the observations of these exoplanet systems by the James Webb Space Telescope could provide valuable insights into the formation, evolution, and atmospheric composition of these systems.