STACY LIBERATORE FOR DAILYMAIL.COM
NASA‘s James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) has discovered its first planet – and the rocky world is a similar size to our own.
Formally classified as LHS 475 b., the exoplanet is 99 per cent of Earth’s diameter, and while it is terrestrial, scientists do not yet know if it has an atmosphere.
Although the team cannot conclude what is present, they have ruled out a thick methane-dominated atmosphere similar to that of Saturn‘s moon Titan.
JWST revealed that the planet, which sits 41 light-years away, is a few hundred degrees warmer than Earth and completes an orbit in two days.
Such exoplanets have remained ‘invisible’ to space telescopes, but JWST proves again just how powerful its technology is.
NASA announced its James Webb Telescope discovered its first planet. Formally classified as LHS 475 b (artist’s impression pictured), the exoplanet is 99 percent of Earth’s diameter.