{"id":405752,"date":"2026-04-15T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2026-04-14T14:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/missions\/webb\/nasas-webb-redefines-dividing-line-between-planets-stars\/"},"modified":"2026-04-15T00:00:00","modified_gmt":"2026-04-14T14:00:00","slug":"nasas-webb-redefines-dividing-line-between-planets-stars","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.vibewire.com.au\/?p=405752","title":{"rendered":"NASA\u2019s Webb Redefines Dividing Line Between Planets, Stars"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"\" class=\" hds-module hds-module-full alignfull wp-block-nasa-blocks-secondary-navigation\">\n<div class=\"hds-secondary-navigation-wrapper z-top width-100 padding-0\">\n<div id=\"\" class=\"hds-secondary-navigation width-full border-bottom-1px text-center hds-color-mode-dark hds-module hds-module-full alignfull wp-block-nasa-blocks-hdsnav\"><button type=\"button\" class=\"hds-secondary-nav-mobile-button display-flex tablet:display-flex 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class=\"hds-foreground-wrapper display-flex flex-direction-column\">\n<div class=\"grid-container grid-container-block margin-top-auto width-full maxw-desktop-lg padding-y-9 padding-x-3 desktop:padding-x-3 z-400\">\n<div class=\"z-400 grid-col-12 tablet:grid-col-12 desktop:grid-col-7 z-400\">\n<div class=\"margin-0\">\n<div class=\"label color-spacesuit-white margin-bottom-2\">5 Min Read<\/div>\n<h1 class=\"heading-41 line-height-md color-spacesuit-white-important\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tNASA\u2019s Webb Redefines Dividing Line Between Planets, Stars\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/h1>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"grid-col-12 tablet:grid-col-12 desktop:grid-col-5\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"skrim-overlay skrim-left mobile-skrim-top z-200\"><\/div>\n<figure class=\"hds-media-background  \"><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"2000\" src=\"https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/missions\/webb\/science\/2026\/04\/STScI-01KHV7GAYRJ1X6T6TG3VJ6H5F4.png?w=2000&#038;h=2000&#038;%23038;fit=clip&#038;%23038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint\" class=\"attachment-1536x1536 size-1536x1536\" alt=\"A black square labeled \u201c29 Cyg\u201d at upper right. In the middle, a white star symbol is surrounded by a small blue trapezoid that widens from upper left to lower right of the star. The star is labeled with a capital A. The trapezoid indicates where the star\u2019s light has been blocked by a coronagraph. To the star\u2019s left beyond the blue trapezoid at 8 o\u2019clock is a fuzzy white blob labeled with a lower-case b.\" style=\"transform: scale(1); transform-origin: 42% 69%; object-position: 42% 69%; object-fit: cover;\" block_context=\"nasa-block\" loading=\"eager\" srcset=\"https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/missions\/webb\/science\/2026\/04\/STScI-01KHV7GAYRJ1X6T6TG3VJ6H5F4.png?w=2000&#038;h=2000&#038;fit=crop&#038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 2000w, https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/missions\/webb\/science\/2026\/04\/STScI-01KHV7GAYRJ1X6T6TG3VJ6H5F4.png?w=150&#038;h=150&#038;fit=crop&#038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 150w, https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/missions\/webb\/science\/2026\/04\/STScI-01KHV7GAYRJ1X6T6TG3VJ6H5F4.png?w=300&#038;h=300&#038;fit=crop&#038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 300w, https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/missions\/webb\/science\/2026\/04\/STScI-01KHV7GAYRJ1X6T6TG3VJ6H5F4.png?w=768&#038;h=768&#038;fit=crop&#038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 768w, https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/missions\/webb\/science\/2026\/04\/STScI-01KHV7GAYRJ1X6T6TG3VJ6H5F4.png?w=1024&#038;h=1024&#038;fit=crop&#038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 1024w, https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/missions\/webb\/science\/2026\/04\/STScI-01KHV7GAYRJ1X6T6TG3VJ6H5F4.png?w=1536&#038;h=1536&#038;fit=crop&#038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 1536w, https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/missions\/webb\/science\/2026\/04\/STScI-01KHV7GAYRJ1X6T6TG3VJ6H5F4.png?w=50&#038;h=50&#038;fit=crop&#038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 50w, https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/missions\/webb\/science\/2026\/04\/STScI-01KHV7GAYRJ1X6T6TG3VJ6H5F4.png?w=100&#038;h=100&#038;fit=crop&#038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 100w, https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/missions\/webb\/science\/2026\/04\/STScI-01KHV7GAYRJ1X6T6TG3VJ6H5F4.png?w=200&#038;h=200&#038;fit=crop&#038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 200w, https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/missions\/webb\/science\/2026\/04\/STScI-01KHV7GAYRJ1X6T6TG3VJ6H5F4.png?w=400&#038;h=400&#038;fit=crop&#038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 400w, https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/missions\/webb\/science\/2026\/04\/STScI-01KHV7GAYRJ1X6T6TG3VJ6H5F4.png?w=600&#038;h=600&#038;fit=crop&#038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 600w, https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/missions\/webb\/science\/2026\/04\/STScI-01KHV7GAYRJ1X6T6TG3VJ6H5F4.png?w=900&#038;h=900&#038;fit=crop&#038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 900w, https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/missions\/webb\/science\/2026\/04\/STScI-01KHV7GAYRJ1X6T6TG3VJ6H5F4.png?w=1200&#038;h=1200&#038;fit=crop&#038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 1200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"padding-y-3 padding-x-3\">\n<div class=\"grid-container grid-container-block padding-x-0\"><figcaption class=\"hds-caption maxw-mobile desktop:padding-x-3\">\n<div class=\"hds-caption-text p-sm margin-0 color-carbon-30\">\n<div><figcaption>Astronomers used NASA\u2019s James Webb Space Telescope to directly image 29 Cygni b, which weighs 15 times Jupiter. They found evidence for heavy chemical elements like carbon and oxygen, which strongly suggests it formed like a planet by accretion within a protoplanetary disk.<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"hds-credits color-spacesuit-white-important\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span>Credits: <\/span><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span>Image: NASA, ESA, CSA, William Balmer (JHU, STScI), Laurent Pueyo (STScI); Image Processing: Alyssa Pagan (STScI)<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>Planets, like those in our solar system, form in a bottom-up process where small bits of rock and ice clump together and grow larger over time. But the heftier the planet, the harder it is to explain its formation that way.<\/p>\n<p>Astronomers used NASA\u2019s James Webb Space Telescope to examine 29 Cygni b, an object about 15 times as massive as Jupiter orbiting a nearby star. They found multiple lines of evidence that 29 Cygni b indeed formed from this bottom-up process, bringing new insights into how the heftiest planets come to be. A paper describing these findings published\u00a0Tuesday in <a href=\"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3847\/2041-8213\/ae374a\"  rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">The Astrophysical Journal Letters<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>The planet formation process is broadly understood to occur within gigantic disks of gas and dust around stars through a process called accretion. Dust gloms together into pebbles, which collide and grow larger and larger, forming protoplanets and eventually planets. The largest then collect gas to become giants like Jupiter. Since it takes more time for gas giants to form, and the disk of planet-forming material eventually evaporates and disappears, planetary systems end up with many more small planets than large planets.<\/p>\n<p>In contrast, stars form when a vast cloud of gas fragments and each piece collapses under its own gravity, growing smaller and denser. A similar fragmentation process could theoretically occur within protoplanetary disks as well. That could explain why some very massive objects are found billions of miles from their host stars, in regions where the protoplanetary disk should have been too tenuous for accretion to occur.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Image: Exoplanet 29 Cygni b (NIRCam Image)<\/h2>\n<div id=\"\" class=\"hds-media hds-module wp-block-image\">\n<div class=\"margin-left-auto margin-right-auto nasa-block-align-wide\">\n<div class=\"hds-media-wrapper margin-left-auto margin-right-auto\">\n<figure class=\"hds-media-inner hds-cover-wrapper hds-media-ratio-fit \"><a href=\"https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/missions\/webb\/science\/2026\/04\/STScI-01KHV7GAYRJ1X6T6TG3VJ6H5F4.png?w=2000&#038;h=2000&#038;%23038;fit=clip&#038;%23038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"2000\" src=\"https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/missions\/webb\/science\/2026\/04\/STScI-01KHV7GAYRJ1X6T6TG3VJ6H5F4.png?w=2000&#038;h=2000&#038;%23038;fit=clip&#038;%23038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint\" class=\"attachment-2048x2048 size-2048x2048\" alt=\"A black square labeled \"29 Cyg\" at upper right. In the middle, a white star symbol is surrounded by a small blue trapezoid that widens from upper left to lower right of the star. The star is labeled with a capital A. The trapezoid indicates where the staru2019s light has been blocked by a coronagraph. To the staru2019s left beyond the blue trapezoid at 8 ou2019clock is a fuzzy white blob labeled with a lower-case b.\" style=\"transform: scale(1); transform-origin: 50% 50%; object-position: 50% 50%; object-fit: cover;\" block_context=\"nasa-block\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/missions\/webb\/science\/2026\/04\/STScI-01KHV7GAYRJ1X6T6TG3VJ6H5F4.png?w=2000&#038;h=2000&#038;fit=crop&#038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 2000w, https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/missions\/webb\/science\/2026\/04\/STScI-01KHV7GAYRJ1X6T6TG3VJ6H5F4.png?w=150&#038;h=150&#038;fit=crop&#038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 150w, https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/missions\/webb\/science\/2026\/04\/STScI-01KHV7GAYRJ1X6T6TG3VJ6H5F4.png?w=300&#038;h=300&#038;fit=crop&#038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 300w, https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/missions\/webb\/science\/2026\/04\/STScI-01KHV7GAYRJ1X6T6TG3VJ6H5F4.png?w=768&#038;h=768&#038;fit=crop&#038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 768w, https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/missions\/webb\/science\/2026\/04\/STScI-01KHV7GAYRJ1X6T6TG3VJ6H5F4.png?w=1024&#038;h=1024&#038;fit=crop&#038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 1024w, https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/missions\/webb\/science\/2026\/04\/STScI-01KHV7GAYRJ1X6T6TG3VJ6H5F4.png?w=1536&#038;h=1536&#038;fit=crop&#038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 1536w, https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/missions\/webb\/science\/2026\/04\/STScI-01KHV7GAYRJ1X6T6TG3VJ6H5F4.png?w=50&#038;h=50&#038;fit=crop&#038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 50w, https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/missions\/webb\/science\/2026\/04\/STScI-01KHV7GAYRJ1X6T6TG3VJ6H5F4.png?w=100&#038;h=100&#038;fit=crop&#038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 100w, https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/missions\/webb\/science\/2026\/04\/STScI-01KHV7GAYRJ1X6T6TG3VJ6H5F4.png?w=200&#038;h=200&#038;fit=crop&#038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 200w, https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/missions\/webb\/science\/2026\/04\/STScI-01KHV7GAYRJ1X6T6TG3VJ6H5F4.png?w=400&#038;h=400&#038;fit=crop&#038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 400w, https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/missions\/webb\/science\/2026\/04\/STScI-01KHV7GAYRJ1X6T6TG3VJ6H5F4.png?w=600&#038;h=600&#038;fit=crop&#038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 600w, https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/missions\/webb\/science\/2026\/04\/STScI-01KHV7GAYRJ1X6T6TG3VJ6H5F4.png?w=900&#038;h=900&#038;fit=crop&#038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 900w, https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/missions\/webb\/science\/2026\/04\/STScI-01KHV7GAYRJ1X6T6TG3VJ6H5F4.png?w=1200&#038;h=1200&#038;fit=crop&#038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 1200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" \/><\/a><\/figure><figcaption class=\"hds-caption padding-y-2\">\n<div class=\"hds-caption-text p-sm margin-0\">Astronomers used NASA\u2019s James Webb Space Telescope to directly image 29 Cygni b, which weighs 15 times Jupiter. They found evidence for heavy chemical elements like carbon and oxygen, which strongly suggests it formed like a planet by accretion within a protoplanetary disk.<\/div>\n<div class=\"hds-credits\">Image: NASA, ESA, CSA, William Balmer (JHU, STScI), Laurent Pueyo (STScI); Image Processing: Alyssa Pagan (STScI)<\/div>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>29 Cygni b sits on the dividing line between what can be explained by these two different mechanisms. It weighs 15 times Jupiter and orbits its star at an average distance of 1.5 billion miles (2.4 billion kilometers), about the same as Uranus in our solar system. The research team targeted it because it could potentially result from either process.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIn computer models, it\u2019s very easy for fragmentation in a disk to run away to much higher masses than 29 Cygni b. This is the lowest mass you could plausibly get. But at the same time, it\u2019s about the highest mass you could get from accretion,\u201d said lead author William Balmer of the Johns Hopkins University and the Space Telescope Science Institute, both in Baltimore.<\/p>\n<p>Balmer\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.stsci.edu\/jwst\/science-execution\/program-information?id=6905\"  rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">observing program<\/a> used Webb\u2019s NIRCam (Near-Infrared Camera) in its coronagraphic mode to directly image 29 Cygni b. This planet was the first of four objects targeted by the program, all of which are known to weigh between 1 and 15 times as much as Jupiter. The team also required their targets to orbit within about 9 billion miles (15 billion kilometers) of their stars.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>The planets were all young and still hot from their formation, ranging in temperature from about 1,000 to 1,900 degrees Fahrenheit (530 to 1,000 degrees Celsius). This would ensure their atmospheric chemistry was similar to the planets of HR 8799, whose system Balmer <a href=\"https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/missions\/webb\/nasas-webb-images-young-giant-exoplanets-detects-carbon-dioxide\/\" rel=\"noopener\">studied previously<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>By choosing appropriate filters, the team was able to look for signs of light being absorbed by carbon dioxide (CO<sub>2<\/sub>) and carbon monoxide (CO), which allowed them to determine the amount of those heavier chemical elements, which astronomers collectively call metals.<\/p>\n<p>They found strong evidence that 29 Cygni b is enriched in metals relative to its host star, which is similar to our Sun in its composition. Given the planet\u2019s mass, the amount of heavy elements it contains is equivalent to about 150 Earths. This suggests that it accreted large amounts of metal-enriched solids from a protoplanetary disk.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Image: Exoplanet 29 Cygni b (Artist\u2019s Concept)<\/h2>\n<div id=\"\" class=\"hds-media hds-module wp-block-image\">\n<div class=\"margin-left-auto margin-right-auto nasa-block-align-wide\">\n<div class=\"hds-media-wrapper margin-left-auto margin-right-auto\">\n<figure class=\"hds-media-inner hds-cover-wrapper hds-media-ratio-fit \" style=\"--hds-image-contain-bg:#ffffff;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/missions\/webb\/science\/2026\/04\/STScI-01KHRY4C8WXA72VDEP3T1CBKDJ.jpg?w=3840&#038;h=2160&#038;%23038;fit=clip&#038;%23038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"3840\" height=\"2160\" src=\"https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/missions\/webb\/science\/2026\/04\/STScI-01KHRY4C8WXA72VDEP3T1CBKDJ.jpg?w=3840&#038;h=2160&#038;%23038;fit=clip&#038;%23038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint\" class=\"attachment-2048x2048 size-2048x2048\" alt=\"At left, an illustration shows a gas giant exoplanet whose right half is illuminated while the left half is in shadow. It is mostly orange shading to pinks and purples at the two poles and shows swirling bands of clouds. Three dark splotches on its upper right show locations where comet fragments impacted the cloudtops, and another incoming comet fragment is seen as a bright spot against the nightside. The planet is against a black background speckled with stars. In the upper right corner of the image shines a small white blob representing its host star. A faint edge-on disk of dust extending from 10 o\u2019clock to 4 o\u2019clock on the star is also white. The words \u201cArtist\u2019s Concept\u201d are at lower left.\" style=\"transform: scale(1); transform-origin: 50% 50%; object-position: 50% 50%; object-fit: cover;\" block_context=\"nasa-block\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/missions\/webb\/science\/2026\/04\/STScI-01KHRY4C8WXA72VDEP3T1CBKDJ.jpg?w=3840&#038;h=2160&#038;fit=crop&#038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 3840w, https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/missions\/webb\/science\/2026\/04\/STScI-01KHRY4C8WXA72VDEP3T1CBKDJ.jpg?w=300&#038;h=169&#038;fit=crop&#038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 300w, https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/missions\/webb\/science\/2026\/04\/STScI-01KHRY4C8WXA72VDEP3T1CBKDJ.jpg?w=768&#038;h=432&#038;fit=crop&#038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 768w, https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/missions\/webb\/science\/2026\/04\/STScI-01KHRY4C8WXA72VDEP3T1CBKDJ.jpg?w=1024&#038;h=576&#038;fit=crop&#038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 1024w, https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/missions\/webb\/science\/2026\/04\/STScI-01KHRY4C8WXA72VDEP3T1CBKDJ.jpg?w=1536&#038;h=864&#038;fit=crop&#038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 1536w, https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/missions\/webb\/science\/2026\/04\/STScI-01KHRY4C8WXA72VDEP3T1CBKDJ.jpg?w=2048&#038;h=1152&#038;fit=crop&#038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 2048w, https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/missions\/webb\/science\/2026\/04\/STScI-01KHRY4C8WXA72VDEP3T1CBKDJ.jpg?w=400&#038;h=225&#038;fit=crop&#038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 400w, https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/missions\/webb\/science\/2026\/04\/STScI-01KHRY4C8WXA72VDEP3T1CBKDJ.jpg?w=600&#038;h=338&#038;fit=crop&#038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 600w, https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/missions\/webb\/science\/2026\/04\/STScI-01KHRY4C8WXA72VDEP3T1CBKDJ.jpg?w=900&#038;h=506&#038;fit=crop&#038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 900w, https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/missions\/webb\/science\/2026\/04\/STScI-01KHRY4C8WXA72VDEP3T1CBKDJ.jpg?w=1200&#038;h=675&#038;fit=crop&#038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 1200w, https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/missions\/webb\/science\/2026\/04\/STScI-01KHRY4C8WXA72VDEP3T1CBKDJ.jpg?w=2000&#038;h=1125&#038;fit=crop&#038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 2000w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 3840px) 100vw, 3840px\" \/><\/a><\/figure><figcaption class=\"hds-caption padding-y-2\">\n<div class=\"hds-caption-text p-sm margin-0\">Exoplanet 29 Cygni b, seen in this artist\u2019s concept, is a gas giant weighing about 15 times the mass of Jupiter. Astronomers studied 29 Cygni b with NASA\u2019s James Webb Space Telescope. They determined that it likely formed from accretion rather than disk fragmentation.<\/div>\n<div class=\"hds-credits\">Illustration: NASA, ESA, CSA, Joseph Olmsted (STScI)<\/div>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>The team also used a ground-based optical telescope array called CHARA (Center for High Angular Resolution Astronomy) to determine if the planet\u2019s orbit is aligned with the spin of the star. They confirmed that alignment, which would be expected for an object that formed from a protoplanetary disk.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe were able to update the planet\u2019s orbit, and also observed the host star to determine its orientation with respect to that orbit,\u201d said Ash Messier, co-author and a graduate student at Johns Hopkins University. \u201cWe showed that the inclination of the planet is well-aligned with the spin axis of the star, which is similar to what we see for the planets of our solar system.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cPut together, this evidence strongly suggests that 29 Cygni b formed within a protoplanetary disk through rapid accretion of metal-rich material, rather than through gas fragmentation,\u201d said Balmer. \u201cIn other words, it formed like a planet and not like a star.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>As the team gathers data on the other three targets within their program, they plan to look for evidence of compositional differences between the lower-mass and higher-mass planets. This should provide additional insights into their formation mechanisms.<\/p>\n<p>The James Webb Space Telescope is the world\u2019s premier space science observatory. Webb is solving mysteries in our solar system, looking beyond to distant worlds around other stars, and probing the mysterious structures and origins of our universe and our place in it. Webb is an international program led by NASA with its partners, ESA (European Space Agency) and CSA (Canadian Space Agency).<\/p>\n<p>To learn more about Webb, visit:<\/p>\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\"><a href=\"https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/webb\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/webb<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Downloads &#038; Related Information<\/h2>\n<p>The following sections contain links to download this article\u2019s images and videos in all available resolutions followed by related information links, media contacts, and if available, research paper and Spanish translation links.<\/p>\n<div id=\"\" class=\"hds-featured-link-list bg-carbon-05 padding-x-2 tablet:padding-x-3 desktop:padding-x-4 padding-y-5 desktop:padding-y-6 hds-module hds-module-full alignfull wp-block-nasa-blocks-featured-link-list\">\n<div class=\"grid-container grid-container-block padding-0\">\n<div class=\"margin-bottom-4\">\n<h2 class=\"heading-22\">\n\t\t\t\tRelated Images &#038; Videos\t\t\t<\/h2>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"grid-row padding-y-2 border-top-1px border-color-carbon-30-important\">\n<div class=\"grid-row featured-link-list-row width-full flex-align-center\">\n<div class=\"grid-col-2 desktop:grid-col-1 tablet:padding-right-3 desktop:padding-right-5\">\n<div class=\"width-full\">\n<div class=\"hds-cover-wrapper width-full ratio-1x1 radius-pill overflow-hidden\">\n<figure class=\"hds-media-background  \"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"2000\" src=\"https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/missions\/webb\/science\/2026\/04\/STScI-01KHV7GAYRJ1X6T6TG3VJ6H5F4.png?w=2000&#038;h=2000&#038;%23038;fit=clip&#038;%23038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"A black square labeled u201c29 Cygu201d at upper right. In the middle, a white star symbol is surrounded by a small blue trapezoid that widens from upper left to lower right of the star. The star is labeled with a capital A. The trapezoid indicates where the staru2019s light has been blocked by a coronagraph. To the staru2019s left beyond the blue trapezoid at 8 ou2019clock is a fuzzy white blob labeled with a lower-case b.\" style=\"transform: scale(1.2); transform-origin: 50% 50%; object-position: 50% 50%; object-fit: cover;\" block_context=\"nasa-block\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/missions\/webb\/science\/2026\/04\/STScI-01KHV7GAYRJ1X6T6TG3VJ6H5F4.png?w=2000&#038;h=2000&#038;fit=crop&#038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 2000w, https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/missions\/webb\/science\/2026\/04\/STScI-01KHV7GAYRJ1X6T6TG3VJ6H5F4.png?w=150&#038;h=150&#038;fit=crop&#038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 150w, https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/missions\/webb\/science\/2026\/04\/STScI-01KHV7GAYRJ1X6T6TG3VJ6H5F4.png?w=300&#038;h=300&#038;fit=crop&#038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 300w, https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/missions\/webb\/science\/2026\/04\/STScI-01KHV7GAYRJ1X6T6TG3VJ6H5F4.png?w=768&#038;h=768&#038;fit=crop&#038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 768w, https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/missions\/webb\/science\/2026\/04\/STScI-01KHV7GAYRJ1X6T6TG3VJ6H5F4.png?w=1024&#038;h=1024&#038;fit=crop&#038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 1024w, https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/missions\/webb\/science\/2026\/04\/STScI-01KHV7GAYRJ1X6T6TG3VJ6H5F4.png?w=1536&#038;h=1536&#038;fit=crop&#038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 1536w, https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/missions\/webb\/science\/2026\/04\/STScI-01KHV7GAYRJ1X6T6TG3VJ6H5F4.png?w=50&#038;h=50&#038;fit=crop&#038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 50w, https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/missions\/webb\/science\/2026\/04\/STScI-01KHV7GAYRJ1X6T6TG3VJ6H5F4.png?w=100&#038;h=100&#038;fit=crop&#038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 100w, https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/missions\/webb\/science\/2026\/04\/STScI-01KHV7GAYRJ1X6T6TG3VJ6H5F4.png?w=200&#038;h=200&#038;fit=crop&#038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 200w, https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/missions\/webb\/science\/2026\/04\/STScI-01KHV7GAYRJ1X6T6TG3VJ6H5F4.png?w=400&#038;h=400&#038;fit=crop&#038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 400w, https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/missions\/webb\/science\/2026\/04\/STScI-01KHV7GAYRJ1X6T6TG3VJ6H5F4.png?w=600&#038;h=600&#038;fit=crop&#038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 600w, https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/missions\/webb\/science\/2026\/04\/STScI-01KHV7GAYRJ1X6T6TG3VJ6H5F4.png?w=900&#038;h=900&#038;fit=crop&#038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 900w, https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/missions\/webb\/science\/2026\/04\/STScI-01KHV7GAYRJ1X6T6TG3VJ6H5F4.png?w=1200&#038;h=1200&#038;fit=crop&#038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 1200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"grid-col-8 desktop:grid-col-10 padding-left-3 desktop:padding-left-0\">\n<div class=\"grid-row flex-align-center\">\n<div class=\"grid-col-12 desktop:grid-col-6\">\n<h2 class=\"heading-36 margin-0\">Exoplanet 29 Cygni b (NIRCam Image)<\/h2>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"grid-col-12 desktop:grid-col-6\">\n<p class=\"p-md margin-0 color-carbon-black-important\">Astronomers used NASA\u2019s James Webb Space Telescope to directly image 29 Cygni b, which weighs 15 times Jupiter. They found evidence for heavy chemical elements like carbon and oxygen, which strongly suggests it formed like a planet by accretion within a protoplanetary disk.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"grid-col-2 desktop:grid-col-1 display-flex flex-justify-end\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/asset\/webb\/exoplanet-29-cygni-b-nircam-image\/\"  aria-label=\"Exoplanet 29 Cygni b (NIRCam Image)\" class=\"link-external-false\" rel=\"noopener\"><br \/>\n                            <svg class=\"hds-featured-link-list-button margin-left-auto margin-right-0\" viewBox=\"0 0 32 32\" fill=\"none\">\n                                <circle class=\"color-nasa-red\" cx=\"16\" cy=\"16\" r=\"16\"><\/circle><path d=\"M8 16.956h12.604l-3.844 4.106 1.252 1.338L24 16l-5.988-6.4-1.252 1.338 3.844 4.106H8v1.912z\" class=\"color-spacesuit-white\"><\/path>\n                            <\/svg><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"grid-row padding-y-2 border-top-1px border-color-carbon-30-important\">\n<div class=\"grid-row featured-link-list-row width-full flex-align-center\">\n<div class=\"grid-col-2 desktop:grid-col-1 tablet:padding-right-3 desktop:padding-right-5\">\n<div class=\"width-full\">\n<div class=\"hds-cover-wrapper width-full ratio-1x1 radius-pill overflow-hidden\">\n<figure class=\"hds-media-background  \"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"3840\" height=\"2160\" src=\"https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/missions\/webb\/science\/2026\/04\/STScI-01KHRY4C8WXA72VDEP3T1CBKDJ.jpg?w=3840&#038;h=2160&#038;%23038;fit=clip&#038;%23038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"At left, an illustration shows a gas giant exoplanet whose right half is illuminated while the left half is in shadow. It is mostly orange shading to pinks and purples at the two poles and shows swirling bands of clouds. Three dark splotches on its upper right show locations where comet fragments impacted the cloudtops, and another incoming comet fragment is seen as a bright spot against the nightside. The planet is against a black background speckled with stars. In the upper right corner of the image shines a small white blob representing its host star. A faint edge-on disk of dust extending from 10 ou2019clock to 4 ou2019clock on the star is also white. The words u201cArtistu2019s Conceptu201d are at lower left.\" style=\"transform: scale(1.2); transform-origin: 50% 50%; object-position: 50% 50%; object-fit: cover;\" block_context=\"nasa-block\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/missions\/webb\/science\/2026\/04\/STScI-01KHRY4C8WXA72VDEP3T1CBKDJ.jpg?w=3840&#038;h=2160&#038;fit=crop&#038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 3840w, https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/missions\/webb\/science\/2026\/04\/STScI-01KHRY4C8WXA72VDEP3T1CBKDJ.jpg?w=300&#038;h=169&#038;fit=crop&#038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 300w, https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/missions\/webb\/science\/2026\/04\/STScI-01KHRY4C8WXA72VDEP3T1CBKDJ.jpg?w=768&#038;h=432&#038;fit=crop&#038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 768w, https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/missions\/webb\/science\/2026\/04\/STScI-01KHRY4C8WXA72VDEP3T1CBKDJ.jpg?w=1024&#038;h=576&#038;fit=crop&#038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 1024w, https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/missions\/webb\/science\/2026\/04\/STScI-01KHRY4C8WXA72VDEP3T1CBKDJ.jpg?w=1536&#038;h=864&#038;fit=crop&#038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 1536w, https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/missions\/webb\/science\/2026\/04\/STScI-01KHRY4C8WXA72VDEP3T1CBKDJ.jpg?w=2048&#038;h=1152&#038;fit=crop&#038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 2048w, https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/missions\/webb\/science\/2026\/04\/STScI-01KHRY4C8WXA72VDEP3T1CBKDJ.jpg?w=400&#038;h=225&#038;fit=crop&#038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 400w, https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/missions\/webb\/science\/2026\/04\/STScI-01KHRY4C8WXA72VDEP3T1CBKDJ.jpg?w=600&#038;h=338&#038;fit=crop&#038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 600w, https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/missions\/webb\/science\/2026\/04\/STScI-01KHRY4C8WXA72VDEP3T1CBKDJ.jpg?w=900&#038;h=506&#038;fit=crop&#038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 900w, https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/missions\/webb\/science\/2026\/04\/STScI-01KHRY4C8WXA72VDEP3T1CBKDJ.jpg?w=1200&#038;h=675&#038;fit=crop&#038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 1200w, https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/missions\/webb\/science\/2026\/04\/STScI-01KHRY4C8WXA72VDEP3T1CBKDJ.jpg?w=2000&#038;h=1125&#038;fit=crop&#038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 2000w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 3840px) 100vw, 3840px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"grid-col-8 desktop:grid-col-10 padding-left-3 desktop:padding-left-0\">\n<div class=\"grid-row flex-align-center\">\n<div class=\"grid-col-12 desktop:grid-col-6\">\n<h2 class=\"heading-36 margin-0\">Exoplanet 29 Cygni b (Artist\u2019s Concept)<\/h2>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"grid-col-12 desktop:grid-col-6\">\n<p class=\"p-md margin-0 color-carbon-black-important\">Exoplanet 29 Cygni b, seen in this artist\u2019s concept, is a gas giant weighing about 15 times the mass of Jupiter. Astronomers studied 29 Cygni b with NASA\u2019s James Webb Space Telescope. They determined that it likely formed from accretion rather than disk fragmentation.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"grid-col-2 desktop:grid-col-1 display-flex flex-justify-end\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/asset\/webb\/exoplanet-29-cygni-b-artists-concept\/\"  aria-label=\"Exoplanet 29 Cygni b (Artist&#039;s Concept)\" class=\"link-external-false\" rel=\"noopener\"><br \/>\n                            <svg class=\"hds-featured-link-list-button margin-left-auto margin-right-0\" viewBox=\"0 0 32 32\" fill=\"none\">\n                                <circle class=\"color-nasa-red\" cx=\"16\" cy=\"16\" r=\"16\"><\/circle><path d=\"M8 16.956h12.604l-3.844 4.106 1.252 1.338L24 16l-5.988-6.4-1.252 1.338 3.844 4.106H8v1.912z\" class=\"color-spacesuit-white\"><\/path>\n                            <\/svg><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-related-information\">Related Links<\/h2>\n<p><strong>Read more:<\/strong> <a href=\"https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/mission\/webb\/science-overview\/science-explainers\/webbs-impact-on-exoplanet-research\/\" rel=\"noopener\">Webb\u2019s Impact on Exoplanet Research<\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong>Explore more:<\/strong> ViewSpace <a href=\"https:\/\/viewspace.org\/interactives\/unveiling_invisible_universe\/exoplanet_variety\/atmospheres\"  rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Exoplanet Variety: Atmosphere<\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong>Explore more:<\/strong> <a href=\"https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/asset\/webb\/how-to-study-exoplanets-webb-and-challenges\/\" rel=\"noopener\">How to Study Exoplanets: Webb and Challenges<\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong>Watch:<\/strong> <a href=\"https:\/\/svs.gsfc.nasa.gov\/20243\/\"  rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Roman Space Telescope Coronagraph Animation<\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/mission\/webb\/latestnews\/\" rel=\"noopener\">More Webb News<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/mission\/webb\/multimedia\/images\/\" rel=\"noopener\">More Webb Images<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/mission\/webb\/science-overview\/\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>Webb Science Themes<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/mission\/webb\/\" rel=\"noopener\">Webb Mission Page<\/a><\/strong> <\/p>\n<p><!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC \"-\/\/W3C\/\/DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional\/\/EN\" \"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/TR\/REC-html40\/loose.dtd\"><br \/>\n<html><body><\/p>\n<div id=\"\" class=\"nasa-gb-align-full width-full maxw-full padding-x-3 padding-y-0 nasa_template_article_b hds-module hds-module-full alignfull wp-block-nasa-blocks-credits-and-details\">\n<section class=\"padding-x-0 padding-top-5 padding-bottom-2 desktop:padding-top-7 desktop:padding-bottom-9\">\n<div class=\"grid-row grid-container maxw-widescreen padding-0\">\n<div class=\"grid-col-12 desktop:grid-col-2 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619.934L144.011 79.6944H306.615L611.412 515.685L658.88 583.579L1055.08 1150.3H892.476L569.165 687.854V687.828Z\" fill=\"white\"><\/path><\/svg><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n<li class=\"social-icon social-icon-facebook\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fscience.nasa.gov%2Fmissions%2Fwebb%2Fnasas-webb-redefines-dividing-line-between-planets-stars%2F\" aria-label=\"Share on Facebook.\" rel=\"noopener\"><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewbox=\"0 0 24 24\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><path d=\"M9 8h-3v4h3v12h5v-12h3.642l.358-4h-4v-1.667c0-.955.192-1.333 1.115-1.333h2.885v-5h-3.808c-3.596 0-5.192 1.583-5.192 4.615v3.385z\"><\/path><\/svg><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n<li class=\"social-icon social-icon-linkedin\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a 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class=\"grid-row margin-y-3\">\n<div class=\"grid-col-4\">\n<div class=\"subheading\">Contact<\/div>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"grid-col-8\">\n<div class=\"margin-bottom-3\">\n<div class=\"heading-16 padding-bottom-1 border-bottom margin-bottom-2\">Media<\/div>\n<div class=\"cnd-extra-left-wysiwyg\">\n<p><strong>Laura Betz<\/strong><br \/>\nNASA\u2019s Goddard Space Flight Center<br \/>\nGreenbelt, Maryland<br \/>\n<a href=\"mailto:laura.e.betz@nasa.gov\">laura.e.betz@nasa.gov<\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong>Christine Pulliam<\/strong><br \/>\nSpace Telescope Science Institute<br \/>\nBaltimore, Maryland<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"grid-col-12 desktop:grid-col-5 padding-right-4 margin-bottom-5 desktop:margin-bottom-0\">\n<div class=\"padding-top-3 border-top-1px border-color-carbon-black \">\n<div class=\"margin-bottom-2\">\n<h2 class=\"heading-14\">Related Terms<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n<ul class=\"article-tags\">\n<li class=\"article-tag\"><a href=\"https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/mission\/webb\" rel=\"noopener\">James Webb Space Telescope (JWST)<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"article-tag\"><a href=\"https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/astrophysics\/\" rel=\"noopener\">Astrophysics<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"article-tag\"><a href=\"https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/exoplanets\/\" rel=\"noopener\">Exoplanets<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"article-tag\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/goddard\/\" rel=\"noopener\">Goddard Space Flight Center<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"article-tag\"><a href=\"https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/\" rel=\"noopener\">Science &#038; Research<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"article-tag\"><a href=\"https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/universe\/\" rel=\"noopener\">The Universe<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><html><body><\/p>\n<div class=\"margin-top-6\">\n<h2 class=\"heading-14 margin-bottom-2\">Related Links and Documents<\/h2>\n<div class=\"cnd-extra-right-wysiwyg\">\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/missions\/webb\/nasas-webb-images-young-giant-exoplanets-detects-carbon-dioxide\/\" rel=\"noopener\">Article: \u201cNASA\u2019s Webb Images Young, Giant Exoplanets, Detects Carbon Dioxide\u201d<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><\/body><\/html><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<\/div>\n<p><\/body><\/html><\/p>\n<div id=\"\" class=\"hds-topic-cards nasa-gb-align-full maxw-full width-full padding-y-6 padding-x-3 color-mode-dark hds-module hds-module-full alignfull wp-block-nasa-blocks-topic-cards\">\n<div class=\"grid-container grid-container-block-lg padding-x-0\">\n<div class=\"grid-row flex-align-center margin-bottom-3\">\n<div class=\"desktop:grid-col-8 margin-bottom-2 desktop:margin-bottom-0\">\n<div class=\"label color-carbon-60 margin-bottom-2\">Keep Exploring<\/div>\n<h2 class=\"heading-36 line-height-sm\">Related Topics<\/h2>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"grid-row grid-gap-2 hds-topic-cards-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/mission\/webb\/\" class=\"mobile:grid-col-12 tablet:grid-col-6 desktop:grid-col-3 topic-card margin-bottom-4 desktop:margin-bottom-0\" rel=\"noopener\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"hds-topic-card hds-cover-wrapper cover-hover-zoom bg-carbon-black\">\n<div class=\"skrim-overlay skrim-overlay-dark skrim-left mobile-skrim-top padding-3 display-flex flex-align-end flex-justify-start z-200\">\n<div>\n<h3 class=\"hds-topic-card-heading heading-29 color-spacesuit-white line-height-sm margin-top-0 margin-bottom-1\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span>James Webb Space Telescope<\/span><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg viewBox=\"0 0 32 32\" fill=\"none\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><circle class=\"color-nasa-red\" cx=\"16\" cy=\"16\" r=\"16\"><\/circle><path d=\"M8 16.956h12.604l-3.844 4.106 1.252 1.338L24 16l-5.988-6.4-1.252 1.338 3.844 4.106H8v1.912z\" class=\"color-spacesuit-white\"><\/path><\/svg><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/h3>\n<p class=\"margin-bottom-0 margin-top-2 color-carbon-20-important\">Webb is the premier observatory of the next decade, serving thousands of astronomers worldwide. It studies every phase in the\u2026<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<figure class=\"hds-media-background  \"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1041\" height=\"1032\" src=\"https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/jwst_artist_concept_0.png?w=1041\" class=\"attachment-1536x1536 size-1536x1536\" alt=\"\" style=\"transform: scale(1); transform-origin: 50% 50%; object-position: 50% 50%; object-fit: cover;\" block_context=\"nasa-block\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/jwst_artist_concept_0.png 1041w, https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/jwst_artist_concept_0.png?resize=150,150 150w, https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/jwst_artist_concept_0.png?resize=300,297 300w, https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/jwst_artist_concept_0.png?resize=768,761 768w, https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/jwst_artist_concept_0.png?resize=1024,1015 1024w, https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/jwst_artist_concept_0.png?resize=50,50 50w, https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/jwst_artist_concept_0.png?resize=100,100 100w, https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/jwst_artist_concept_0.png?resize=400,397 400w, https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/jwst_artist_concept_0.png?resize=600,595 600w, https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/jwst_artist_concept_0.png?resize=900,892 900w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1041px) 100vw, 1041px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>\t\t\t<\/a><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/exoplanets\/\" class=\"mobile:grid-col-12 tablet:grid-col-6 desktop:grid-col-3 topic-card margin-bottom-4 desktop:margin-bottom-0\" rel=\"noopener\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"hds-topic-card hds-cover-wrapper cover-hover-zoom bg-carbon-black\">\n<div class=\"skrim-overlay skrim-overlay-dark skrim-left mobile-skrim-top padding-3 display-flex flex-align-end flex-justify-start z-200\">\n<div>\n<p class=\"hds-topic-card-heading heading-29 color-spacesuit-white line-height-sm margin-top-0 margin-bottom-1\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span>Exoplanets<\/span><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg viewBox=\"0 0 32 32\" fill=\"none\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><circle class=\"color-nasa-red\" cx=\"16\" cy=\"16\" r=\"16\"><\/circle><path d=\"M8 16.956h12.604l-3.844 4.106 1.252 1.338L24 16l-5.988-6.4-1.252 1.338 3.844 4.106H8v1.912z\" class=\"color-spacesuit-white\"><\/path><\/svg>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<figure class=\"hds-media-background  \"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"5760\" height=\"3816\" src=\"https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/astro\/exo-explore\/exoplanet-artists-concepts\/e1-6000-exoplanets-artists-concept-web.jpg?w=5760&#038;h=3816&#038;%23038;fit=clip&#038;%23038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint\" class=\"attachment-1536x1536 size-1536x1536\" alt=\"\" style=\"transform: scale(1); transform-origin: 50% 50%; object-position: 50% 50%; object-fit: cover;\" block_context=\"nasa-block\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/astro\/exo-explore\/exoplanet-artists-concepts\/e1-6000-exoplanets-artists-concept-web.jpg?w=5760&#038;h=3816&#038;fit=crop&#038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 5760w, https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/astro\/exo-explore\/exoplanet-artists-concepts\/e1-6000-exoplanets-artists-concept-web.jpg?w=300&#038;h=199&#038;fit=crop&#038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 300w, https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/astro\/exo-explore\/exoplanet-artists-concepts\/e1-6000-exoplanets-artists-concept-web.jpg?w=768&#038;h=509&#038;fit=crop&#038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 768w, https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/astro\/exo-explore\/exoplanet-artists-concepts\/e1-6000-exoplanets-artists-concept-web.jpg?w=1024&#038;h=678&#038;fit=crop&#038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 1024w, https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/astro\/exo-explore\/exoplanet-artists-concepts\/e1-6000-exoplanets-artists-concept-web.jpg?w=1536&#038;h=1018&#038;fit=crop&#038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 1536w, https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/astro\/exo-explore\/exoplanet-artists-concepts\/e1-6000-exoplanets-artists-concept-web.jpg?w=2048&#038;h=1357&#038;fit=crop&#038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 2048w, https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/astro\/exo-explore\/exoplanet-artists-concepts\/e1-6000-exoplanets-artists-concept-web.jpg?w=400&#038;h=265&#038;fit=crop&#038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 400w, https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/astro\/exo-explore\/exoplanet-artists-concepts\/e1-6000-exoplanets-artists-concept-web.jpg?w=600&#038;h=398&#038;fit=crop&#038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 600w, https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/astro\/exo-explore\/exoplanet-artists-concepts\/e1-6000-exoplanets-artists-concept-web.jpg?w=900&#038;h=596&#038;fit=crop&#038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 900w, https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/astro\/exo-explore\/exoplanet-artists-concepts\/e1-6000-exoplanets-artists-concept-web.jpg?w=1200&#038;h=795&#038;fit=crop&#038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 1200w, https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/astro\/exo-explore\/exoplanet-artists-concepts\/e1-6000-exoplanets-artists-concept-web.jpg?w=2000&#038;h=1325&#038;fit=crop&#038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 2000w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 5760px) 100vw, 5760px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>\t\t\t<\/a><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/exoplanets\/stories\/\" class=\"mobile:grid-col-12 tablet:grid-col-6 desktop:grid-col-3 topic-card margin-bottom-4 desktop:margin-bottom-0\" rel=\"noopener\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"hds-topic-card hds-cover-wrapper cover-hover-zoom bg-carbon-black\">\n<div class=\"skrim-overlay skrim-overlay-dark skrim-left mobile-skrim-top padding-3 display-flex flex-align-end flex-justify-start z-200\">\n<div>\n<p class=\"hds-topic-card-heading heading-29 color-spacesuit-white line-height-sm margin-top-0 margin-bottom-1\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span>Exoplanet Stories<\/span><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg viewBox=\"0 0 32 32\" fill=\"none\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><circle class=\"color-nasa-red\" cx=\"16\" cy=\"16\" r=\"16\"><\/circle><path d=\"M8 16.956h12.604l-3.844 4.106 1.252 1.338L24 16l-5.988-6.4-1.252 1.338 3.844 4.106H8v1.912z\" class=\"color-spacesuit-white\"><\/path><\/svg>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<figure class=\"hds-media-background  \"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"572\" height=\"586\" src=\"https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/search_distant_life_1-jpg.webp?w=572\" class=\"attachment-1536x1536 size-1536x1536\" alt=\"\" style=\"transform: scale(1); transform-origin: 50% 50%; object-position: 50% 50%; object-fit: cover;\" block_context=\"nasa-block\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/search_distant_life_1-jpg.webp 572w, https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/search_distant_life_1-jpg.webp?resize=293,300 293w, https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/search_distant_life_1-jpg.webp?resize=50,50 50w, https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/search_distant_life_1-jpg.webp?resize=390,400 390w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 572px) 100vw, 572px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>\t\t\t<\/a><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/universe\/\" class=\"mobile:grid-col-12 tablet:grid-col-6 desktop:grid-col-3 topic-card margin-bottom-4 desktop:margin-bottom-0\" rel=\"noopener\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"hds-topic-card hds-cover-wrapper cover-hover-zoom bg-carbon-black\">\n<div class=\"skrim-overlay skrim-overlay-dark skrim-left mobile-skrim-top padding-3 display-flex flex-align-end flex-justify-start z-200\">\n<div>\n<p class=\"hds-topic-card-heading heading-29 color-spacesuit-white line-height-sm margin-top-0 margin-bottom-1\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span>Universe<\/span><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg viewBox=\"0 0 32 32\" fill=\"none\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><circle class=\"color-nasa-red\" cx=\"16\" cy=\"16\" r=\"16\"><\/circle><path d=\"M8 16.956h12.604l-3.844 4.106 1.252 1.338L24 16l-5.988-6.4-1.252 1.338 3.844 4.106H8v1.912z\" class=\"color-spacesuit-white\"><\/path><\/svg>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<figure class=\"hds-media-background  \"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1536\" height=\"1514\" src=\"https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/ngc5068-1-flat-final.jpg?w=1536\" class=\"attachment-1536x1536 size-1536x1536\" alt=\"\" style=\"transform: scale(1); transform-origin: 50% 50%; object-position: 50% 50%; object-fit: cover;\" block_context=\"nasa-block\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/ngc5068-1-flat-final.jpg 3941w, https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/ngc5068-1-flat-final.jpg?resize=300,296 300w, https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/ngc5068-1-flat-final.jpg?resize=768,757 768w, https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/ngc5068-1-flat-final.jpg?resize=1024,1009 1024w, https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/ngc5068-1-flat-final.jpg?resize=1536,1514 1536w, https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/ngc5068-1-flat-final.jpg?resize=2048,2019 2048w, https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/ngc5068-1-flat-final.jpg?resize=50,50 50w, https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/ngc5068-1-flat-final.jpg?resize=100,100 100w, https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/ngc5068-1-flat-final.jpg?resize=400,394 400w, https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/ngc5068-1-flat-final.jpg?resize=600,591 600w, https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/ngc5068-1-flat-final.jpg?resize=900,887 900w, https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/ngc5068-1-flat-final.jpg?resize=1200,1183 1200w, https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/ngc5068-1-flat-final.jpg?resize=2000,1972 2000w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1536px) 100vw, 1536px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Planets, like those in our solar system, form in a bottom-up process where small bits of rock and ice clump together and grow larger over time. But the heftier the planet, the harder it is to explain its formation that way. Astronomers used NASA\u2019s James Webb Space Telescope to examine 29 Cygni b, an object [\u2026]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":13,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"_uf_show_specific_survey":0,"_uf_disable_surveys":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-405752","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.vibewire.com.au\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/405752","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.vibewire.com.au\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.vibewire.com.au\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.vibewire.com.au\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/13"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.vibewire.com.au\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=405752"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.vibewire.com.au\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/405752\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":405753,"href":"https:\/\/www.vibewire.com.au\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/405752\/revisions\/405753"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.vibewire.com.au\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=405752"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.vibewire.com.au\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=405752"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.vibewire.com.au\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=405752"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}