A Planet Shaped Like a Lemon! A Strange New World in the Universe Discovered by JWST

20 August 2026 Introduction The universe continues to offer us new wonders. Using NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope (James Webb Space Telescope – JWST), astronomers have discovered a rare exoplanet named PSR J2322-2650b. This planet, whose properties are completely different from typical planetary systems, is described in detail in a study published in the scientific journal *The Astrophysical Journal Letters*. What is a pulsar star? This new planet does not orbit an ordinary star; instead, it orbits a special type of neutron star known as a pulsar. A pulsar is the state in which a massive star, after reaching a supernova explosion at the end of its life, collapses into an extremely dense, city-sized small object. These neutron stars spin rapidly many times per second and continuously emit beams of light into space—this is why they are called “pulsars.” Why a lemon shape? Although PSR J2322-2650b has a mass comparable to that of Jupiter, its shape is highly unusual. The pulsar’s immense gravitational force has pulled this planet out of a spherical form and transformed it into an elongated shape like a lemon. Because this planet orbits only about 1 million miles from the pulsar, the effect of gravity on it is extremely strong. As a result, the planet completes one full orbit in just eight hours—an extraordinary speed unmatched by any planet in our Solar System. A carbon-rich, peculiar atmosphere The most astonishing feature of this planet is the composition of its atmosphere. Studies conducted using JWST’s infrared instruments have found that the planet’s atmosphere contains carbon-rich, soot-like clouds. Unlike the hydrogen- or water-vapor-rich atmospheres seen on typical planets, this planet has clouds made of carbon particles known as “soot.” This is a distinctive composition not previously observed on any planet. Diamonds in the planet’s depths? The most striking aspect of this discovery is scientists’ suspicion that, due to intense pressure deep within the planet, the carbon clouds may have become compressed and transformed into diamonds. This is a rare chemical process not seen anywhere in our Solar System, and it raises new questions about our understanding of planet formation. Scientists’ amazement Peter Gao, a co-author of the study from the Carnegie Earth and Planets Laboratory, described the discovery as a “completely unexpected surprise.” How this planet formed remains a major mystery. In general, astronomers believe that planets orbiting pulsars may be “second-generation” planets formed only after the star exploded as a supernova. However, the chemical composition of this planet does not fully explain this theory. JWST’s unique capability Astronomers emphasize that this discovery is a study that was possible only with the JWST telescope. JWST’s infrared sensitivity and its protected cold environment, located about 1 million miles from Earth, enable atmospheric studies of this kind to be carried out with a precision that cannot be achieved from Earth. It is noteworthy that conducting this study using ground-based telescopes is simply not possible. Expanding the boundaries of planetary science This discovery further broadens our understanding of how planets form and under what extreme conditions they can survive. Although more than 6,000 exoplanets have been discovered so far, an unusual combination like PSR J2322-2650b—pulsar orbit, lemon shape, and carbon-rich atmosphere—has never before been seen together in any planet. Future studies Astronomers plan to study this planet and other similar pulsar planetary systems further. Through this, it is hoped that a clearer scientific explanation can be obtained for how planets form and evolve in extreme gravitational environments. NASA’s next-generation telescopes and advanced computer modeling are expected to help unravel this mystery. Conclusion This extraordinary lemon-shaped planet once again reminds us of the boundless diversity of the universe. This strange world, with carbon clouds and a possible diamond core, has opened new questions and new avenues of research for the scientific community. As JWST continues to bring such astonishing discoveries to light, we are able to understand the mysteries of the universe one by one. NASA Science; ScienceDaily; The Astrophysical Journal Letters https://science.nasa.gov/missions/webb/nasas-webb-observes-exoplanet-whose-composition-defies-explanation/ https://sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/12/251227004146.htm