Highlights from Exoplanet Observations by the James Webb Space Telescope

TL;DR

The James Webb Space Telescope is revolutionizing exoplanet science by providing detailed insights into exoplanet atmospheres, compositions, and diversity, significantly advancing the field and influencing our understanding of Solar System planets.

Contribution

This review highlights the groundbreaking exoplanet observations made by JWST, showcasing its role in transforming exoplanet research and planetary science.

Findings

Detailed chemical inventories of gas giants

Insights into sub-Neptune diversity

Constraints on rocky exoplanet atmospheres

Abstract

The James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) has started a revolution in exoplanetary science. From studying in exquisite detail the chemical inventories and physical processes in gas giant exoplanets, the structure and chemical diversity of the enigmatic sub-Neptune population to even providing constraints on the atmospheric make-up of rocky exoplanets, the observatory is enabling cutting-edge science that is touching virtually every sub-area in the field. In this review Chapter, we showcase key highlights from exoplanet science being conducted with this state-of-the-art space observatory, which we believe is representative of the transformational science it is producing. One of the key takeaways from these pioneering JWST observations is how they are starting to reshape not only how we think, study and interpret exoplanet observations -- but how they are also reshaping our intuition about our very own Solar System planets.