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How You Could Name One of the Exoplanets Webb Will Study
In August, the International Astronomical Union announced NameExoWorlds 2022, an exoplanet naming contest where you have the chance to name one of the exoplanets that the James Webb Space Telescope will study during its mission duration.
The James Webb Space Telescope has already taken the world by storm with stunning images of never before seen details of some of our favorite space objects. In addition to capturing infrared images of galaxies, stars, and nebulae, Webb’s infrared capabilities are also great for studying the composition of exoplanet atmospheres. Determining the composition of exoplanet atmospheres is essential for determining if a planet could sustain life on its surface.
The International Astronomical Union has chosen 20 systems up for naming, all of which Webb will study. Each system consists of one exoplanet orbiting a star. This is only the third time that the IAU has sought the public’s opinion on celestial object names.
As you might imagine, being chosen to name one of these star and exoplanet systems is not easy. In order to have a chance, the IAU states that you will need to “create a team composed of…
