For the first time , astronomers have observe the front of helium in the atm of an exoplanet . The find was potential thanks to infrared notice of the target , which allow the researchers to spot chemical signature that they had n’t find out before .

The exoplanet in inquiry is called WASP-107b and is located 200 light - years away in the constellation of Virgo . It is a super - Neptune , roughly the size of Jupiter but one - eighth of its mass . It orbits its whizz in just six days .

The research was conducted by an outside team , led by Jessica Spake from the University of Exeter , and is published inNature . Helium is found in teemingness on Jupiter and Saturn , and it has long been suggested that it should be seen in exoplanets . stargazer have conduct observations using ultraviolet lightness , but this time the team used a novel near - infrared proficiency to analyze the satellite .

" We trust to utilise this technique with the coming James Webb Space Telescope , for good example , to learn what sort of planet have large envelope of atomic number 1 and atomic number 2 , and how long planets can hold on to their atmospheres , "   Spake said in astatement . " By measuring infrared Light Within , we can see further out into distance than if we were using ultraviolet light . "

The hotshot is so close to the planet that its intense activeness ionise the WASP-107b upper ambiance . This recombines to form delirious helium , which was spotted by the squad . The signaling that they discover was very strong and spread out out beyond the expected confines of the atmospheric state .

" The helium we notice extends far out to distance as a flimsy swarm surrounding the major planet , "   carbon monoxide - author Tom Evans added . " If small , Earth - sized planets have similar He cloud , this fresh proficiency offers an exciting means to study their upper atm in the very nigh futurity . "

By using the novel technique , the team trust that they can investigate exoplanets even further off , and also learn smaller objects . Maybe even globe - sized ones . And infrared might help us notice other exciting feature too . Exoplanetary air have the largest number of spectral feature in infrared ,   so we could notice molecules such as carbon dioxide , water , methane , and carbon monoxide .

The James Webb Space Telescope , which is set to found in 2020 , is expect to encounter acrucial rolein this eccentric of inquiry .