Astronomers find water and carbon dioxide in atmosphere of WASP-166 b

Astronomers have discovered water, carbon dioxide, and ammonia in the atmosphere of WASP-166 b, a hot super-Neptune exoplanet. This was revealed through observations from the James Webb Space Telescope, marking a significant finding in exoplanet research. WASP-166 b is located about 368 light-years away and is much larger and heavier than Earth. The planet orbits its star every 5.44 days and has an estimated temperature of 1,270 K, placing it in the hot Neptune desert. The study indicates that the planet's atmosphere is primarily composed of water and carbon dioxide, with traces of ammonia. The findings enhance understanding of planetary formation and the diversity of exoplanetary systems.