James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) Analyses Surface Composition of Super-Earth LHS 3844 b

Key facts

• Researchers used the Mid Infrared Instrument (MIRI) on the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) to study the geological properties and surface composition of the rocky exoplanet LHS 3844 b.
• LHS 3844 b is a rocky super-Earth 30% larger than Earth, situated 48.5 light-years away, which orbits a cool red dwarf star once every 11 hours.
• The planet is tidally locked and lacks an atmosphere, resulting in a constant dayside with an average temperature of approximately 1000 Kelvin (725 Degrees Celsius).
• Data from MIRI and the Spitzer Space Telescope indicate the surface likely consists of dark basalt or magmatic rock rich in magnesium and iron, rather than an Earth-like silicate-rich crust.
• The JWST is an international collaboration led by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) alongside the European Space Agency (ESA) and the Canadian Space Agency (CSA).