'James Webb’s breakthrough': A hazy ‘super-Venus’ planet that defies all known categories
Produced by: Mohsin Shaikh
Hidden Planet
Enaiposha, once thought to be a mini-Neptune, has been revealed as something entirely new.
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Super-Venus
New research categorizes Enaiposha as the first "Super-Venus," a planet much larger and hotter than Venus.
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Hazy Mystery
Enaiposha’s dense atmosphere, filled with metal vapor and carbon dioxide, defies easy observation.
Credit: NASA
Key Discovery
Led by Everett Schlawin (University of Arizona) and Kazumasa Ohno (Japan), the study uncovered CO2 concentrations akin to Venus.
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Extreme Climate
With a 1.6-day orbit, the planet’s close proximity to its host star, Orkaria, makes it intensely hot and hostile.
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Carbon Signals
JWST data detected faint traces of carbon dioxide in its atmosphere, reshaping our understanding of sub-Neptunes.
Thick Haze
At higher altitudes, aerosols and dense haze block most light, making Enaiposha challenging to study further.
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Follow-Up Needed
Researchers emphasize the need for precision studies to confirm its metal-rich atmosphere and unique evolution.
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Changing Views
Enaiposha challenges traditional theories about exoplanets, opening doors to studying other extreme worlds.
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