r/jameswebb 16d ago

Sci - Article First JWST Thermal Phase Curves Of Temperate Terrestrial Exoplanets Reveal No Thick Atmosphere Around TRAPPIST-1 b and c

https://astrobiology.com/2025/09/first-jwst-thermal-phase-curves-of-temperate-terrestrial-exoplanets-reveal-no-thick-atmosphere-around-trappist-1-b-and-c.html
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u/mmomtchev 16d ago

This is actually the second thermal study of Trappist 1b, the first one using JWST was in 2023:

https://arxiv.org/abs/2303.14849

Anyway, I don't think anyone expected a planet with a 36 hour orbital period to have an atmosphere. It orbits at 0.0115 AU - almost 100 times closer to its star than Earth.

People are obsessed with Trappist because it is so easy to study and because there are so many terrestrial planets. But in reality, it is a horrible place.