James Webb Space Telescope detects salt in atmosphere of "Pink Planet"
Astronomers using the James Webb Space Telescope have identified salty clouds and exotic chemistry on a distant planetary-mass companion known as GJ504b. The discovery provides new data on one of the coldest objects ever directly imaged.
Amalgamated from CBS News (opens in new tab), Phys.org (opens in new tab)
Astronomers at Northwestern University have identified salt in the atmosphere and evidence of exotic chemistry surrounding the object known as GJ504b, commonly referred to as the "Pink Planet." The findings were made possible through observations from the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST).
GJ504b was first discovered in 2013. While it is frequently described as a planet due to its appearance, researchers clarify that it is technically classified as a planetary-mass companion. It remains one of the coldest known companions ever directly imaged by astronomers.
Because GJ504b is too faint for scientists to analyze its light from Earth, the use of the JWST was necessary to study its chemical makeup. According to reports from Phys.org, the atmosphere had remained a mystery for more than a decade until these new observations were conducted. CBS News reported that researchers expressed surprise at the discovery of salt in the clouds, which indicates complex chemistry within the system.