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詹姆斯·韦布空间望远镜(JWST)
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“韦布”实现小型气态巨行星直接成像
Ke Ji Ri Bao· 2025-06-25 23:29
Core Insights - The James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) has successfully captured direct images of a small gas giant exoplanet, marking a significant step towards observing smaller planets closer to Earth's mass [1][2] - This discovery fills a gap in understanding the formation processes of early planets and the dynamics within protoplanetary disks [1] Group 1: Exoplanet Discovery - JWST has identified the smallest exoplanet observed through direct imaging to date, overcoming significant technical challenges due to the planet's faintness and proximity to its bright host star [1] - The exoplanet, named TWA 7b, is estimated to have a mass approximately 0.3 times that of Jupiter and orbits its host star at a distance of 52 astronomical units [2] Group 2: Technological Advancements - A specialized coronagraph developed by the Paris Observatory was installed on JWST's MIRI instrument to block the central star's light, facilitating the observation of fainter objects [1] - Future JWST missions aim to capture images of exoplanets with masses as low as 10% of Jupiter, enhancing the understanding of terrestrial planets [2] Group 3: Implications for Astronomy - The discovery of TWA 7b represents a major breakthrough in the study of lower-mass exoplanets and sets the stage for future explorations [2] - Advancements in imaging technology, both in space and on the ground, are expected to improve the capability to search for exoplanets, further unraveling cosmic mysteries [2]
跨135亿年历史的最大宇宙图谱发布
Qi Lu Wan Bao· 2025-06-07 04:04
Core Insights - The COSMOS-Web project has released the largest cosmic map and observational data to date, based on data collected by the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST), covering over 780,000 galaxies and spanning 13.5 billion years, which represents 98% of the universe's history [1][2] - The goal of the research team is to create an unprecedented ultra-deep wide-angle image of the universe, with the COSMOS-Web image being equivalent to a mural of approximately 4 meters in length and over 15 square meters in area, significantly larger than the Hubble Space Telescope's deep field image [1] - JWST has discovered a number of ancient galaxies far exceeding expectations, finding ten times more galaxies than previously predicted within the first 500 million years after the universe's birth, along with supermassive black holes that were undetectable during the Hubble era [2] Data and Accessibility - The released data includes not only ultra-deep space images but also a detailed galaxy catalog, which is made available to researchers worldwide [3]
“系外生命”是否存在?(科技大观)
Ren Min Ri Bao· 2025-05-28 22:31
Core Findings - An international team led by astronomer Nikku Madhusudhan from Cambridge University has published findings in the Astrophysical Journal Letters, indicating the discovery of "the strongest evidence yet" for potential life activity in the atmosphere of the exoplanet K2-18b, located approximately 124 light-years from Earth [1] - The atmosphere of K2-18b contains chemical signatures of dimethyl sulfide (DMS) and dimethyl disulfide (DMDS), which on Earth are primarily produced by marine life, suggesting a possible biological origin [1] - This research utilized the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) to analyze the starlight passing through the planet's atmosphere, revealing the presence of these complex organic molecules, which are more intricate than methane [1] Exoplanet Characteristics - K2-18b is one of the most common types of exoplanets discovered, with a mass approximately 8.6 times that of Earth and a volume about 2.6 times larger, situated within the habitable zone [2] - Previous studies using the Hubble Space Telescope suggested that K2-18b's atmosphere was rich in water vapor, although later analyses indicated that the observed water vapor might actually be methane [2] - The recent study confirmed the presence of methane and carbon dioxide in K2-18b's atmosphere and proposed the existence of dimethyl sulfide for the first time, achieving a detection confidence level of 3.4, which is considered a significant threshold in astronomical observations [2] Scientific Debate - There is skepticism among researchers regarding the findings, with some suggesting that the observational data may be affected by significant noise, and that reported features could be statistical fluctuations [3] - Other models could potentially explain the data with similar or even better fits, raising questions about the existence of water on K2-18b, with some researchers proposing it may resemble a gas giant like Neptune [3] - The possibility that dimethyl sulfide could originate from non-biological processes or interstellar medium has also been raised, indicating that even if detected, these compounds may not necessarily indicate life [3] Future Exploration - Various countries are developing plans to explore exoplanetary life, including China's Tianling Plan and the United States' Habitable Worlds Observatory project, reflecting a growing interest in astrobiology [4] - Advancements in astronomical telescopes, atmospheric modeling, and astrobiology are expected to enhance the understanding of potential life signals in the universe [4]