'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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