NASAs Webb Catches Exoplanet Getting Roasted
Summary: On June 17, 2026, researchers released JWST observations of HD 80606 b, a four-Jupiter-mass exoplanet with an extreme elliptical orbit that gets intensely heated as it sweeps close to its Sun-like star.
On June 17, 2026, researchers released observations from NASA James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) of HD 80606 b, an exoplanet roughly four times the mass of Jupiter. The planet orbits a Sun-like star on a highly elongated elliptical path, sweeping dramatically close to its host during each perihelion passage.
According to reports, JWST recorded a sharp spike in the atmospheric temperature of HD 80606 b as it swept near its star, with the heating exceeding prior expectations. The observations capture the atmospheric response of the planet to this brief but intense burst of stellar irradiation, providing a rare window into how a hot Jupiter behaves during its closest approach.
The research team leveraged JWST infrared capabilities to monitor changes in the atmospheric composition and thermal structure of HD 80606 b during its close approach. As reported, the findings are expected to inform models of atmospheric dynamics and seasonal variation on highly eccentric hot Jupiters. The work was led by researchers at institutions including STScI and released publicly on June 17, 2026.