Astronomers have used the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) to investigate a new type of planet. This molten lava world beyond the solar system likely smells like rotten eggs, and suggests that there is a much wider diversity of worlds beyond our solar system than previously recognized.
The extra-solar planet, or exoplanet, is designated L 98-59 d, and it orbits a small red star located about 35 light-years away. Data from the JWST and an array of Earth-based telescopes suggest that this exoplanet, which is around 1.6 times the size of the Earth, is extremely low-density. Its atmosphere is packed with hydrogen sulfide, a compound known for its distinct rotten egg stench.
