NASA’s James Webb telescope discovers its first Earth-sized exoplanet

This illustration reflects that exoplanet LHS 475 b is rocky and almost precisely the same size as Earth based on new evidence from NASA's James Webb Space Telescope. | Illustration: NASA, ESA, CSA, Leah Hustak (STScI)

The James Webb Space Telescope has discovered its first new exoplanet, an Earth-sized rocky planet called LHS 475 b. Located just 41 light-years away, the planet orbits very close to a small, dim star, completing a full orbit in just two days.

The discovery, presented at the American Astronomical Society (AAS) meeting on Wednesday, January 11th, is notable as most exoplanets discovered are typically large gas giants similar to Jupiter. It is harder for most telescopes to detect Earth-like planets because they are much smaller, at less than a tenth of the diameter.

The planet orbits very close to a small, dim star

Previous research with NASA's Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite, another space-based telescope that was launched in 2018...

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