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Warm Gas-Giant Exoplanet WASP-107 b Transmission Spectrum (NIRSpec)

Graphic titled “Hot Gas-Giant Exoplanet WASP-107 b Transmission Spectrum: NIRSpec Bright Object Time-Series Spectroscopy” showing a graph of Amount of Light Blocked vs. Wavelength of Light, with peaks for water, carbon dioxide, methane, sulfur dioxide, and carbon monoxide labeled.

This transmission spectrum, captured using Webb’s NIRSpec (Near-Infrared Spectrograph), shows the amounts of different wavelengths (colors) of near-infrared starlight blocked by the atmosphere of the gas-giant exoplanet WASP-107 b.

The spectrum was made by observing the planet-star system for about 8.5 hours before, during, and after the transit as the planet moved across the face of the star.  

By comparing the brightness of light filtered through the planet’s atmosphere (transmitted light) to unfiltered starlight, it is possible to calculate the amount of each wavelength that is blocked by the atmosphere. Since each molecule absorbs a unique combination of wavelengths, the transmission spectrum can be used to constrain the abundance of various gases.

This spectrum shows clear evidence for water (H2O), carbon dioxide (CO2), carbon monoxide (CO), methane (CH4), and sulfur dioxide (SO2) in the planet’s atmosphere, allowing researchers to estimate the interior temperature and mass of the core.

About the Object

  • R.A. Position
    R.A. PositionRight ascension – analogous to longitude – is one component of an object's position.
    12h33m32.74s
  • Dec. Position
    Dec. PositionDeclination – analogous to latitude – is one component of an object's position.
    -10d08m46.37s
  • Constellation
    ConstellationOne of 88 recognized regions of the celestial sphere in which the object appears.
    Virgo
  • Distance
    DistanceThe physical distance from Earth to the astronomical object. Distances within our solar system are usually measured in Astronomical Units (AU). Distances between stars are usually measured in light-years. Interstellar distances can also be measured in parsecs.
    210 light-years

About the Data

  • Data Description
    Data DescriptionProposal: A description of the observations, their scientific justification, and the links to the data available in the science archive.
    Science Team: The astronomers who planned the observations and analyzed the data. "PI" refers to the Principal Investigator.

    NIRSpec Bright-Object Time Series Spectroscopy

  • Instrument
    InstrumentThe science instrument used to produce the data.
    NIRSpec
  • Exposure Dates
    Exposure DatesThe date(s) that the telescope made its observations and the total exposure time.
    June 23, 2023
  • Object Name
    Object NameA name or catalog number that astronomers use to identify an astronomical object.
    WASP-107 b
  • Object Description
    Object DescriptionThe type of astronomical object.
    Warm Neptune Exoplanet
  • Release Date
    May 20, 2024
  • Science Release
    Webb Cracks Case of Inflated Exoplanet
    Read the release
  • Credit
    Illustration: NASA, ESA, CSA, Ralf Crawford (STScI); Science: NIRSpec GTO Transiting Exoplanet Team, David Sing (JHU)

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Related Images & Videos

Illustration of an exoplanet with a hazy blue atmosphere and loose bands of clouds.

Warm Gas-Giant Exoplanet WASP-107 b (Artist's Concept)

This artist’s concept shows what the exoplanet WASP-107 b could look like based on recent data gathered by NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope, along with previous observations from Hubble and other space- and ground-based telescopes. WASP-107 b is a “warm Neptune” exoplanet...

Graphic titled “Hot Gas-Giant Exoplanet WASP-107 b Transmission Spectrum: Hubble WFC3 Grism Spectroscopy; Webb NIRCam Grism Spectroscopy; Webb MIRI Low-Resolution Spectroscopy” showing a graph of Amount of Light blocked vs. Wavelength of Light, with peaks for water, carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, methane, sulfur dioxide, and ammonia labeled.

Warm Gas-Giant Exoplanet WASP-107 b Transmission Spectrum (Hubble WFC3, Webb NIRCam, Webb MIRI)

This transmission spectrum, captured using NASA’s Hubble and James Webb space telescopes, shows the amounts of different wavelengths (colors) of starlight blocked by the atmosphere of the gas-giant exoplanet WASP-107 b . The spectrum includes light collected over five separate...

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Details

Last Updated
Aug 28, 2025
Contact
Media

Laura Betz
NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center
Greenbelt, Maryland
laura.e.betz@nasa.gov

Illustration Credit

NASA, ESA, CSA, Ralf Crawford (STScI)

Science Credit

NIRSpec GTO Transiting Exoplanet Team, David Sing (JHU)

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