What did the James Webb Space Telescope discover about exoplanet LHS 3844 b?

The James Webb Space Telescope revealed LHS 3844 b is a dark, hot, airless rocky exoplanet with a basalt surface likely shaped by space weathering, not plate tectonics.

Historic First Direct Surface Analysis

The James Webb Space Telescope performed the first direct analysis of an exoplanet's surface, marking a major shift from previous studies that focused on atmospheres. Using the Mid-Infrared Instrument (MIRI), astronomers observed thermal infrared light emitted from LHS 3844 b's intensely hot dayside during secondary eclipses in 2023 and 2024. This breakthrough technique allowed scientists to study the planet's geology directly.