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HomeScienceJames Webb telescope spots a bizarre lemon-like planet discovered 2,000 light-years away

James Webb telescope spots a bizarre lemon-like planet discovered 2,000 light-years away

NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope has discovered a lemon-shaped exoplanet, PSR J2322‑2650b, with an extreme atmosphere unlike any previously seen. The bizarre world defies planetary science and stretches imagination beyond limits.

December 22, 2025 / 14:41 IST
PSR J2322‑2650b, a lemon-shaped exoplanet orbiting a pulsar, revealed by NASA’s Webb Telescope. (Image: NASA)

NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope has spotted a bizarre world. PSR J2322‑2650b lies about 2,000 light-years away. Scientists were stunned by its extreme and unusual lemon shape. The planet is stretched by the gravity of a pulsar. This discovery challenges everything known about planetary formation today.

A Lemon-Shaped Oddity in the Cosmic Ocean

Unlike normal planets, it is far from being spherical. Gravity from its dead stellar host pulls and distorts endlessly. The planet orbits close to a pulsar, a collapsed star. Pulsars emit extreme gravitational and radiation forces continuously over time. This celestial tug-of-war sculpts PSR J2322‑2650b into an elongated shape.

An Atmosphere that Defies All Expectations

James Webb’s infrared sensors revealed a truly extraordinary atmosphere composition.

Instead of familiar gases, it contains helium and carbon compounds. Such a combination is unlike over a hundred other known exoplanets. Conditions may form deep soot clouds or even diamond layers. Every measurement is cross-checked, confirming the planet’s shocking characteristics.

Extreme Worlds Rewrite the Rules of Planetary Science

PSR J2322‑2650b forces scientists to rethink planetary physics drastically. Its gravity-induced shape and unusual chemistry defy conventional models. Observations are consistent, credible and backed by Webb’s advanced instruments. Future research may uncover more bizarre, extreme planets across the galaxy.

A Window into Cosmic Oddities

The planet offers insight into extreme planetary environments like nothing. It reveals the power of stellar remnants on orbiting bodies. This discovery deepens understanding of universe diversity and planetary extremes. James Webb continues to surprise astronomers with unprecedented space observations. Each revelation reshapes humanity’s knowledge of distant worlds dramatically.

The Future of Planet Hunting From Space

Advanced telescopes make spotting distant, bizarre planets increasingly routine. The astronomers now hunt worlds with unusual shapes and chemistry confidently. PSR J2322‑2650b is only the beginning of cosmic surprises. Such discoveries highlight Webb’s extraordinary capabilities and credibility in astronomy.

first published: Dec 22, 2025 02:40 pm

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