Astronomers have identified a Jupiter-like exoplanet, Epsilon Indi Ab, located several light years away, whose atmosphere likely smells of urine. The planet's atmosphere contains ammonia and water clouds, the two primary components of urine, according to a new study.
The discovery was made using the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST), which allowed scientists to study the planet in unprecedented detail. Elisabeth Matthews from the Max Planck Institute for Astronomy, lead author of the study, noted that JWST is enabling detailed analysis of solar-system analogue planets for the first time.
Epsilon Indi Ab is approximately 7.6 times the mass of Jupiter but similar in size. It orbits its star at a much greater distance than most known exoplanets, resulting in a relatively low temperature ranging from -70°C to 20°C. The presence of water clouds was unexpected and challenges existing models of exoplanet atmospheres.
James Mang of the University of Texas at Austin highlighted the progress made possible by JWST, stating that detecting such atmospheric features was once impossible. Future telescopes like NASA's Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope may help observe reflective clouds on such worlds directly.
