Story perspectives

Thick Haze Obscures Secrets of Ultra-Low-Density Exoplanet

3/20/2026

Summary

Story summary

The exoplanet Kepler-51d is ultra-low-density, 2,615 light-years away in Cygnus, part of a system with three similar worlds.
Kepler-51d is surrounded by a thick haze that obscures its atmospheric composition and formation history.
Researchers used the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) to study Kepler-51d.
The observations found no clear chemical signals, suggesting the haze is the thickest seen on an exoplanet.
The findings were published in The Astronomical Journal.

1 of 1

Story summary

The exoplanet Kepler-51d is ultra-low-density, 2,615 light-years away in Cygnus, part of a system with three similar worlds.
Kepler-51d is surrounded by a thick haze that obscures its atmospheric composition and formation history.
Researchers used the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) to study Kepler-51d.
The observations found no clear chemical signals, suggesting the haze is the thickest seen on an exoplanet.
The findings were published in The Astronomical Journal.