The James Webb Space Telescope has detected water vapor around a rocky exoplanet 26 light-years away from Earth.
Astronomers are trying to determine if the water vapor is an indicator of the first-known presence of an atmosphere around a rocky exoplanet. The planet, GJ 486 b, is in the habitable zone and orbits its red dwarf star every 1.5 days, with a surface temperature of 800 degrees Fahrenheit.
When GJ 486 b transits its star, data from the Webb telescope revealed hints of water vapor, though it is possible that the water vapor is connected to the star itself. Future observations may reveal more details about the source of the water vapor.
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