One of the most highly anticipated missions of recent years is about to start peering into deep space.
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The most powerful space telescope ever built is currently performing final calibrations of its onboard scientific instruments, five months after launch and a million miles from the spot that put it in the sun. It will begin the exciting work of trying to uncover the mysteries of our universe in a few weeks.
NASA said this week that it wants to explore the lava-covered 55 Cancri e and the airless LHS 3844 b with the James Webb Space Telescope.
Both of these exoplanets are classified as super-Earths because of their size and rocky composition. NASA said that the team will train the telescope to find out more about the evolution of rocky planets like Earth.
55 Cancri e is just 1.5 million miles from the sun and has a surface temperature that is far above the melting point of typical rock-forming minerals. It means that the surface is likely to be covered in lava.
If 55 Cancri e is locked 888-349-8884 888-349-8884 888-349-8884 888-349-8884 888-349-8884 888-349-8884 888-349-8884 888-349-8884 888-349-8884 888-349-8884 888-349-8884 888-349-8884 888-349-8884 888-349-8884 888-349-8884 888-349-8884 888-349-8884 888-349-8884 888-349-8884 888-349-8884 888-349-8884 888-349-8884 888-349-8884 888-349-8884 888-349-8884 888-349-8884 888-349-8884 888-349-8884 888-349-8884 888-349-8884 888-349-8884 888-349-8884 888-349-8884 888-349-8884 888-349-8884 888-349-8884 888-349-8884 888-349-8884 888-349-8884 888-349-8884 888-349-8884 888-349-8884 888-349-8884 888-349-8884 888-349-8884 888-349-8884 888-349-8884 888-349-8884 888-349-8884 888-349-8884 888-349-8884 The hottest part of the planet is away from the star and the heat on the day side varies, according to observations carried out by NASA.
Scientists are wondering if 55 Cancri e has a dynamic atmosphere. It is a question that should be answered by the Near-Infrared Camera ( ) and the Mid-Infrared Instrument ( ).
It is1-65561-65561-65561-65561-65561-65561-65561-65561-65561-65561-65561-65561-65561-65561-65561-65561-65561-65561-65561-65561-65561-65561-65561-65561-65561-65561-65561-65561-65561-65561-65561-65561-65561-65561-65561-65561-65561-65561-65561-65561-65561-65561-65561-65561-65561-65561-65561-65561-65561-65561-65561-65561-65561-65561-65561-6556 In this case, the surface would heat up, melt, and even evaporate during the day, forming a very thin atmosphere that NASA could detect in the evening.
The smaller and cooler LHS 3844 b offers a chance to closely analyze the solid rock on an exoplanet's surface. The team plans to use MIRI to learn more about the planet's composition because of the different types of rock.
NASA said that the thermal emission spectrum of the day side of LHS 3844 b will be captured and compared to the spectrum of known rocks to determine its composition.
The observations of the two exoplanets are expected to help scientists in many other ways.
The mission is aiming to track down the first galaxies formed after the Bigbang, find out how galaxies evolved from formation to now, and measure the physical and chemical properties of planetary systems.
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