In 2003, when the Starry Sky was being routinely observed, a small yellow dwarf was discovered in the Phoenix constellation; it was later designated as WASP 96. 2013, the year The super-WASP orbital telescope detected an extremely rarefied gas giant in the immediate vicinity of the star. A preliminary spectral analysis of its atmosphere revealed that it was remarkably transparent and practically devoid of water vapor. In 2022, a second analysis of the object’s atmosphere was conducted using the new generation orbital telescope James Webb, which offered an unprecedented level of precision. So, what does this incredible telescope look like, and what has it discovered so far in the depths of space? Let’s take a closer look. [Music] In 1996, the history of the largest modern orbital telescope began. It took James Webb a month to reach his destination point, located 1.5 million kilometers from Earth. Because the telescope is equipped with high-precision infrared sensors, it can see the faintest and most distant space objects hidden in the depths of the universe. However, this unrivaled sensitivity also has a drawback, as the telescope’s sensitivity is so great that it can also detect the faintest and most distant space objects.
The observatory itself had to be moved away from large celestial bodies so that it could be located near the so-called second LaGrange point in the shadow of our planet, but the results were well worth the effort, as James Webb helped us make a number of amazing discoveries almost immediately after its launch, some of which were quite expected while others prompted additional questions. The spectral analysis of Wasp 96b, an extremely low-density exoplanet that emits light, was one of the studies with a paradoxical result. 045 astronomical units from its parent star and completes a full orbit around it in just three and a half days according to calculations. The mass of the celestial body is half that of Jupiter, and its diameter is 20 percent greater than that of Jupiter due to its extreme proximity to the star. The temperature of the object’s outer layers is quite high and reaches 1285 Kelvin, or approximately one thousand degrees Celsius These exoplanets belong to the category of hot Jupiters and are distinguished by significant atmosphere loss due to Stellar Wind. Earlier measurements showed very clear sodium lines in the atmosphere of Wasp 96b, which the researchers interpreted as a sign of an unusually clean and cloudless atmosphere.
According to the available models of the structure of gas giants, this element can exist early in the planet’s atmosphere, meaning that the upper regions of the celestial body’s atmosphere hardly absorb light. The outer layers of the gas giant contain large quantities of water vapor, which condenses in the upper atmosphere and can form a large haze or thick clouds that reflect some of the light that is cast upon them; as a result, the temperature of the object’s lower layers may differ significantly from the calculated values. Perhaps the accuracy of the earlier study was insufficient, or perhaps some of the data was misinterpreted. It is also possible that we are unaware of a particular factor that would allow us to combine the results into a single, accurate picture. Wasp 96b remains a mystery, so it must, of course, be studied in greater depth. James Webb’s discoveries do not end there. For instance, 69 light-years away, there is a peculiar system consisting of three brown dwarfs. These cosmic bodies are too large to be planets and too small to launch a stable thermonuclear reaction within their interiors. Brown dwarfs are typically difficult to detect due to their extremely low surface radiation, but James Webb’s infrared vision makes it easy to distinguish objects that are virtually invisible in the visible spectrum. The two largest components of the system have very similar characteristics and are located quite close to one another. The distance between them is approximately two astronomical units, and their combined mass is slightly more than 100 times that of Jupiter.
The temperature of both objects is relatively high, reaching 2600 kelvin, or slightly over 2300 degrees Celsius. The third component of the system is located at a much greater distance, approximately one hundred astronomical units from the center. Observations indicate that the outer layers of this brown dwarf have a temperature of 1240 Kelvin, or slightly below 1000 degrees Celsius. Despite this, the celestial body is considerably warmer than the gas giants in our solar system, given the absence of a star that could provide it with heat. It was surprising to discover that the outer layers of this brown dwarf contain not only the usual components, such as water, methane, and carbon dioxide, but also minute particles of various silicon compounds. Because silicon is a product of stellar thermonuclear reactions, the existence of such clusters was previously predicted on the basis of theoretical considerations; however, until recently, observations had not been able to confirm this hypothesis. This event may have been caused by the gravitational pull of a massive celestial body that passed near the protostellar nebula approximately 140 million years ago. Interestingly, if the separation had not occurred, the total mass of the formed object would have been sufficient to initiate a self-sustaining thermonuclear reaction. In this case, instead of observing three brown wolves, we would have been observing a single tiny star. The James Webb equipment is capable of observing not only single objects in the depths of space but also enormous space structures that stretch for hundreds of light years.
This is the location of two of the Milky Way’s brightest objects, each of which is a million times brighter than the Sun. Multiple observations have confirmed this theory, but many details of this lengthy and intricate process remain unexplored. The formation of a new star can take millions of years, but James Webb’s infrared senses allow astronomers to observe it in much less time. In the Carina nebula, thousands of protostars and young stars in various stages of evolution have been detected. By observing them, scientists can fully trace the process of star formation and gain a better understanding of the forces involved. Some phases of this process are predicted to theoretically take hours or days, and with James Webb, the likelihood of capturing them is greatly increased. For all we know, we may soon be able to admire a photograph of a young star exploding thousands of light years from the Sun. Meanwhile, an 18-section mirror 6.5 meters in diameter and an array of high-precision instruments allow James Webb to capture light from objects much further away at the very edge of the visible spectrum. A powerful force of gravity generated by a massive body focuses and amplifies light from a source behind it. This effect can be produced early if a great number of factors come together, so it is not surprising that it is one of the rarest phenomena in the universe.
What is surprising is that while observing the galaxy cluster Max 0723, located about 4 billion light years from the earth, James Webb captured the light of a space object passing through gravitational lensing. The object is believed to be a very distant and old galaxy with an estimated age of 13 billion years. Ten other star clusters have also been detected and are believed to have originated between 200 and 700 million years after the Big Bang. According to some observations, they have a complex structure that takes tens of millions of years to form. This discovery will allow scientists to develop existing ideas about the early stages of the universe’s evolution and may even prompt them to question the age of the universe. Unfortunately, we know very little about these distant times, but James Webb will help us learn more. The state-of-the-art telescope has pushed the limits of our knowledge to the very edge of the universe. There are likely dozens of discoveries hidden in its images that are awaiting interpretation. Meanwhile, the James Webb Mission has only just begun, and there are years of operation ahead. We will be following its progress and hope for your support in this long, complex, and incredibly exciting endeavor.
