The vastness of the cosmos has always been a realm of curiosity, with countless stars harboring their own planetary systems. One such fascinating system belongs to the star HR 8799 , a landmark in exoplanetary research. Recently, the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) added a new chapter to this cosmic saga by detecting carbon dioxide (CO₂) in the atmosphere of one of HR 8799's exoplanets. This discovery not only showcases the advanced capabilities of the JWST but also opens up intriguing questions about the composition and evolution of exoplanetary atmospheres. The HR 8799 System: An Overview HR 8799 is a young, massive A-type star located approximately 133 light-years away from Earth in the constellation Pegasus. Known for being one of the first star systems with directly imaged exoplanets, HR 8799 hosts a dynamic family of four gas giants: HR 8799 b, c, d, and e. These exoplanets are massive, ranging from 5 to 10 times the mass of Jupiter, and they orbit their parent star at d...
“The universe is not only stranger than we imagine, it is stranger than we can't imagine”