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James Webb Space Telescope finds a salty surprise on famous 'Pink Planet'

The James Webb Space Telescope identified salt clouds in the atmosphere of GJ504b. This gas giant is located 57 light-years from Earth. The discovery provides a clearer view of one of the coldest and faintest planetary-mass objects studied directly.

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New data specifies the planet's distance from Earth and its physical characteristics.

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  1. JWST Confirms Salt Clouds on Pink Planet GJ504b

    The James Webb Space Telescope identified salt clouds in the atmosphere of GJ504b. This gas giant is located 57 light-years from Earth. The discovery provides a clearer view of one of the coldest and faintest planetary-mass objects studied directly.

    What's confirmed:

    • GJ504b is located about 57 light-years from Earth.
    • The James Webb Space Telescope found salt clouds on GJ504b.
    • GJ504b is known as the Pink Planet.
    • GJ504b is a gas giant.

    Still unconfirmed:

    • GJ504b is 25 times the mass of Jupiter.
    • GJ504b orbits a sun-like star.
    confidence 90%

  2. JWST Confirms Salt Clouds on GJ504b

    Researchers led by Northwestern University used the James Webb Space Telescope to analyze GJ504b. The data confirms the presence of salt clouds in the atmosphere of this planetary-mass companion. These findings validate a theoretical prediction made 15 years ago.

    What's confirmed:

    • GJ504b is a planetary-mass companion known as the Pink Planet.
    • The James Webb Space Telescope provided the first direct spectrum of GJ504b.
    • The atmosphere of GJ504b contains salt clouds.
    • GJ504b was discovered in 2013.

    Still unconfirmed:

    • The chemical profile may solve a decade-old mystery regarding the faint appearance of the planet.
    confidence 100%

  3. JWST Detects Salt Clouds on 'Pink Planet' GJ504b

    Astronomers led by Northwestern University used the James Webb Space Telescope to analyze the spectrum of the exoplanet GJ504b. The data reveals an atmosphere containing salty clouds. This object is one of the coldest planetary-mass companions ever directly imaged.

    What's confirmed:

    • The James Webb Space Telescope discovered salty clouds in the atmosphere of GJ504b.
    • GJ504b is known as the Pink Planet.
    • Scientists used JWST and advanced processing to obtain the spectrum of the planet for the first time.
    • The object is described as a planetary-mass companion and could be a giant planet or brown dwarf.
    • GJ504b was first found in 2013.
    • The planet is too faint to be studied using ground-based telescopes.

    Still unconfirmed:

    • GJ504b is located approximately 57 light-years away in the constellation Virgo.
    • GJ504b is a gas giant.
    confidence 95%