Archive · 5 Jan 2026
Lemon-Shaped Exoplanet Challenges Planet Formation Theories
Scientists have found a very unusual planet called PSR J2322-2650b.
This planet is shaped like a lemon and is very different from any other planet we have seen before.
It orbits a special kind of star called a pulsar, which is a tiny but very dense leftover from a dead star.
The planet is very close to its star, taking only 7.8 hours to go around it.
This closeness makes the planet stretch into a lemon shape.
The planet's atmosphere is also strange—it has a lot of carbon and helium, and it might even have clouds that rain diamonds!
Scientists are not sure how this planet formed, but they think it might be the remains of a star that was eaten by the pulsar.
This discovery is helping us learn more about how planets and stars are made.
Scientists discovered a lemon-shaped exoplanet named PSR J2322-2650b using NASA’s James Webb telescope.
The exoplanet orbits a pulsar, a rapidly spinning neutron star, and is about the mass of Jupiter.
PSR J2322-2650b is extremely close to its star, completing an orbit in just 7.8 hours.
The planet's atmosphere is dominated by helium and carbon, with clouds of carbon soot that may rain diamonds.
Scientists are unsure how the exoplanet formed, with theories ranging from being a stripped star to a unique black widow system.
- Who
- Scientists using NASA’s James Webb telescope
- What
- Discovery of a lemon-shaped exoplanet, PSR J2322-2650b
- When
- Not specified
- Where
- Orbiting a pulsar
- Why
- Challenges existing theories about planet formation and atmospheres
- Exoplanet Name
- PSR J2322-2650b
- Discovery Method
- NASA’s James Webb telescope
- Mass
- Similar to Jupiter
- Orbit
- 7.8 hours around its star
- Distance from Star
- 1 million miles
- Atmosphere Composition
- Helium, carbon, and carbon soot clouds
- Host Star Type
- Pulsar (rapidly spinning neutron star)
- Potential System Type
- Black widow system