詹姆斯·韦伯太空望远镜（JWST）在一颗高温熔岩行星上发现了云层，这一观测结果挑战了天文学家对裸岩行星的既有预期 12。研究发现该行星名为 TOI-561 b，距离地球约 280 光年 2。尽管其表面覆盖岩浆，但拥有厚重大气层，反射了其恒星光线的 74% 1；另有数据显示其反射了约 75% 的入射星光，与金星的反照率相当 2。这种高反照率被研究人员比喻为类似“巨型防晒霜”或“天然防晒霜”的云层结构 12。
对 TOI-561 b 的观测持续了 37 小时，覆盖了近四个完整轨道周期 2。主要研究者包括来自伯明翰大学的 Anjali Piette 博士和滑铁卢大学的 Lisa Dang 教授 2。他们认为高反照率可能源于含有二氧化硅 (SiO2) 和硅酸镁 (MgSiO3) 的硅酸盐矿物云层 2。这一发现暗示该行星的大气层可能通过全球性熔岩海洋释放的气体不断得到补充，从而在极端辐射环境下得以幸存数十亿年 2。相关研究成果发表在《天文学杂志》(The Astronomical Journal)，文章日期为 2026 年 10 月 27 日 2。
The James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) has detected clouds on the scorching lava planet TOI-561 b, overturning previous assumptions that such high-temperature worlds would be stripped of their gaseous envelopes and exposed as bare rock 12. This unexpected discovery reveals that the planet, located approximately 280 light-years from Earth, reflects a significant portion of its host star's light due to a cloud layer described by researchers as a "giant sunscreen" 12. The findings challenge standard models regarding planetary evolution in extreme radiation environments 1.
Observational data indicates that TOI-561 b reflects between 74% and 75% of incoming starlight, an albedo comparable to that of Venus 12. Scientists attribute this high reflectivity to clouds composed of silicate minerals, specifically silica (SiO2) and magnesium silicate (MgSiO3), which form above the planet's magma-covered surface 2. To capture these details, the research team conducted a continuous 37-hour observation period covering nearly four complete orbital cycles of the planet 2.
The study suggests that the planet's atmosphere may be constantly replenished by gases released from its global lava ocean, allowing it to survive for billions of years despite intense stellar irradiation 2. The research was led by Dr. Anjali Piette from the University of Birmingham and Professor Lisa Dang from the University of Waterloo 2. Their results were published in The Astronomical Journal on October 27, 2026, providing new insights into how rocky planets can retain atmospheres under harsh conditions 2.
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