Exoplanets Atmosphere - How Do Astronomers Identify It?

Astronomers identify exoplanet atmospheres using a technique called transit spectroscopy. When an exoplanet passes in front of its host star, a small amount of the star's light passes through the planet's atmosphere.

The molecules in the atmosphere absorb certain wavelengths of light, while other wavelengths pass through unhindered.

By measuring the fraction of light that is absorbed at different wavelengths, astronomers can infer the composition of the atmosphere.

The James Webb Space Telescope will be able to detect absorption features at longer wavelengths, which means that it can study the atmospheres of cooler planets.
This will allow astronomers to study the atmospheres of cooler planets, which are more likely to be habitable.

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Additional visual material sourced from:

NASA
Pixabay

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