Science & Tech · Science & Environment · 2 hrs ago
James Webb observations suggest lava planet has reflective atmosphere
TOI-561 b appears to have a substantial atmosphere, despite being a rocky planet with a surface covered in molten rock.
An international research team used the James Webb Space Telescope to observe the planet for 37 hours as it circled its star.
The planet is about 280 light-years from Earth, and its extreme heat had led scientists to expect that any atmosphere would have disappeared long ago.
The observations suggest it reflects about 75% of the starlight reaching it, helping explain why its dayside is cooler than expected.
Computer models point to reflective clouds of silicate minerals as one possible cause, though researchers do not yet know what gases make up the atmosphere.
The planet is far too hostile for life as we know it, and scientists are left to investigate how its atmosphere has survived, possibly with gases supplied by its molten surface.
James Webb Space Telescope observations suggest the rocky exoplanet TOI-561 b has a substantial atmosphere despite intense radiation from its star.
Researchers monitored the planet for 37 hours, covering nearly four orbits.
The observations indicate that the planet reflects much of the starlight reaching it and moves heat from its dayside toward its nightside.
Computer simulations suggest the atmosphere may contain reflective silicate clouds, but its composition is not known.
Scientists say further observations are needed to explain how the atmosphere has survived.
- Who
- An international team of researchers, including astronomers Anjali Piette and Lisa Dang.
- What
- James Webb observations suggest TOI-561 b has a substantial, reflective atmosphere.
- When
- The findings were reported in October 2026.
- Where
- TOI-561 b, about 280 light-years from Earth.
- Why
- The observations challenge expectations that the planet’s intense stellar radiation would have stripped away its atmosphere.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Researchers used JWST to monitor TOI-561 b for nearly four orbits around its star.
The team reported evidence that the planet reflects starlight and redistributes heat, suggesting it has a substantial atmosphere.
- Planet
- TOI-561 b
- Distance
- Approximately 280 light-years from Earth
- Observation time
- 37 hours, covering nearly four orbits
- Reflected starlight
- Approximately 75%
- Possible cloud minerals
- Silicon dioxide and magnesium silicate
3 sources
What people are saying
Our discovery challenges current theories
We would expect a heavily irradiated rocky planet like TOI-561 b to have lost its atmosphere billions of years ago.
Together, these point to the presence of an atmosphere.