The James Webb Space Telescope was successfully launched by the Ariane 5 rocket on December 25, 2021. Since then, mankind has made an important step in space exploration, which was extremely expensive, because the costs of this telescope alone were close to USD 10 billion.

The question that may arise naturally will have to do with whether it was worth making such an investment? Part of the answer is that scientists have already announced exciting observations. What is it about? In the first year of operation, the James Webb Space Telescope will show us a real hell , because one of the objects of his research will be 55 Cancri e , an extremely unpleasant planet.

Mankind will know 55 Cancri e thanks to the James Webb Space Telescope

55 Cancri e, also known as Janssen, is a so-called super-Earth, an extrasolar planet with much greater mass than Earth but not as large as gas giants. Interestingly, 55 Cancri e is extremely close to its star – less than 1.5 million miles, or about 2.5 million kilometers. It is such a short distance that the surface temperatures of 55 Cancri e most likely melt the rocks and the landscape resembles one great ocean of lava .

The year, or the time our planet Earth orbits the Sun, is approximately 365 days. As for the planet 55 Cancri e, it is so close to its star that it orbits it in just 18 hours. A year of 18 hours? Lava Ocean? What else? A 2012 study suggests that roughly a third of the planet’s mass is carbon. Interestingly, due to the extreme pressure and temperature inside, said carbon is in the form of a diamond.

There are also many indications that 55 Cancri e may be constantly pointing one side towards its star and the other towards outer space. Therefore, the so-called night side may be at a temperature of 1100 degrees Celsius , and the day side, i.e. always facing the star, may be at a temperature of 2400 degrees Celsius . If there is any precipitation, it is rather molten rock falling from the sky.

Humanity is examining 55 Cancri e from time to time, because it’s an extremely interesting place, but NASA wants to know more. Therefore, it was announced that one of the most modern telescopes in the world will direct its equipment to the hellish planet and allow us to get to know it even better. Many people are excited to discover that in the first year of operation of the James Webb Space Telescope, more secrets of 55 Cancri e will be discovered . It is hard to imagine a less friendly place.