New Delhi: An international team of researchers, including scientists from IIT Kanpur, has detected a nearby “super-Jupiter” exoplanet named Epsilon Indi Ab, located approximately 12 light years from Earth. This exoplanet is potentially one of the coldest ever imaged, with an estimated temperature of around two degrees Celsius.
Epsilon Indi Ab stands out as colder than any other imaged exoplanet to date. The closest known exoplanet, Proxima Centauri b, is about four light years away from Earth.
The groundbreaking images were taken using NASA’s advanced James Webb Space Telescope, enhancing our understanding of distant celestial bodies.
Orbiting the star Epsilon Indi A, this exoplanet is dubbed a “super-Jupiter” due to its similarities with Jupiter, albeit warmer and more massive.
The study, published in the journal Nature, sheds light on the unique properties of Epsilon Indi Ab:
• Epsilon Indi Ab is colder than other imaged exoplanets, which tend to be younger and hotter. As planets cool and contract over time, they become harder to image due to their reduced brightness.
•Researchers observed “back-and-forth wobbles” of the star Epsilon Indi A, suggesting the presence of a planetary body. However, Epsilon Indi Ab’s mass, distance from its star, and orbit differed from their initial predictions.
•The planet’s atmosphere shows an unusual composition with high metal content and a different carbon-to-oxygen ratio compared to our solar system’s planets. Significant amounts of methane, carbon monoxide, and carbon dioxide were detected, absorbing shorter wavelengths of light, which might also indicate a very cloudy atmosphere.
Research and Implications
Lead author Elisabeth Matthews from the Max Planck Institute for Astronomy, Germany, and Prashant Pathak, assistant professor at IIT Kanpur’s SPASE department, highlighted the significance of these findings:
• The discoveries open up new questions about the formation and evolution of Epsilon Indi Ab, contributing to the broader understanding of planetary systems.
• Studying Epsilon Indi Ab and similar exoplanets helps scientists explore planetary formation, atmospheric composition, and the potential for life beyond our solar system.
The James Webb Space Telescope’s capabilities will continue to enhance our knowledge of distant exoplanets, providing detailed insights into their properties and behaviors. By studying exoplanets like Epsilon Indi Ab, researchers hope to unlock the mysteries of planetary systems and their potential to harbor life.
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