NASA's James Webb Telescope discovers first exoplanet, close in size to Earth 

The James Webb Space Telescope discovered its first planet outside of our solar system, similar in size to Earth, NASA announced on Wednesday. 

The planet, named LSH 475 b, is located in the constellation Octans and is 41 light-years away—relatively nearby in space terms. The newly discovered planet has 99% of Earth’s diameter. However, it is several degrees hotter than our own planet and it takes two full days to orbit around.

Scientists are still studying LSH 475 b to figure out if it is what it is made out of or if it has an atmosphere. However, they have already discarded some options. 

"There are some terrestrial-type atmospheres that we can rule out," said Jacob Lustig-Yaeger, a researcher at the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory in Maryland. "It can't have a thick methane-dominated atmosphere, similar to that of Saturn's moon Titan."

Researchers first discovered the exoplanet—the term given to any planet outside of our solar system—while they were scanning space with NASA’s Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS). They then used the Webb Telescope’s technology to further investigate their finding. 

"Webb is bringing us closer and closer to a new understanding of Earth-like worlds outside our solar system, and the mission is only just getting started," said Mark Clampin, astrophysics division director at NASA headquarters in D.C.

The James Webb Telescope has the ability to capture atoms and molecules in space, which gives it an advantage over other space telescopes. The Webb telescope is the only one capable of characterizing the atmospheres of exoplanets.