Scientists have discovered the youngest exoplanet ever observed, a gas giant only 3 million years old, orbiting a misaligned protoplanetary disk. This unprecedented find, located 520 light-years from Earth, challenges existing theories of planetary formation and offers a unique glimpse into the early stages of planetary development.
The James Webb Space Telescope has directly imaged a cold gas giant exoplanet, Epsilon Indi Ab, located 12 light-years away. This rare observation is significant because most exoplanets are too small and dim to be directly imaged. The planet’s relatively cool temperature, just 35 degrees Fahrenheit, made it a suitable target for Webb’s sensitive infrared instruments.
