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Unprecedented Carbon Atmosphere Discovered on Exoplanet PSR J2322-2650b

9/14/2025

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Summary

Story summary

PSR J2322-2650, a "black widow" pulsar system, extracts material from a neighboring star, creating the Jupiter-sized exoplanet PSR J2322-2650b.
This exoplanet features a unique atmosphere rich in elemental carbon, specifically tricarbon (C3) or dicarbon (C2), which is unprecedented.
The carbon atmosphere challenges existing models of planet formation in black widow systems, where outer layers are expected to be lost.
Observations from the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) show strong westerly winds on PSR J2322-2650b, unlike the typical easterly winds on similar planets.
Scientists must reconcile these findings with current theories as JWST continues to search for more anomalies.

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Story summary

PSR J2322-2650, a "black widow" pulsar system, extracts material from a neighboring star, creating the Jupiter-sized exoplanet PSR J2322-2650b.
This exoplanet features a unique atmosphere rich in elemental carbon, specifically tricarbon (C3) or dicarbon (C2), which is unprecedented.
The carbon atmosphere challenges existing models of planet formation in black widow systems, where outer layers are expected to be lost.
Observations from the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) show strong westerly winds on PSR J2322-2650b, unlike the typical easterly winds on similar planets.
Scientists must reconcile these findings with current theories as JWST continues to search for more anomalies.