If humans ever visit a planet in the YSES-1 system, they should be prepared for some unusual weather patterns. Astronomers have discovered thick clouds on this young planet, possibly made of mineral dust and iron that could rain down when the clouds break.

The James Webb space telescope revealed these high-altitude clouds on the planet, located 307 light years away in the deep southern sky. YSES-1, the star around which the planet orbits, is only 1 million years old, much younger than our sun. This star has two gas giants orbiting it, both larger than Jupiter and still in the formation process.

Dr. Kielan Hoch, an astrophysicist at the Space Telescope Science Institute, highlighted the importance of studying this young planetary system to understand the early stages of planet evolution around distant stars. The unique laboratory provided by multiplanet systems like this one offers valuable insights into planet formation theories.

The observations made by the telescope surprised the astronomers, as they were able to capture both planets in the system in one view. The outer planet, YSES-1c, is smaller and about six times the mass of Jupiter. The high-altitude clouds in its atmosphere are composed of magnesium silicate dust grains and possibly iron, which would precipitate out.

Further data revealed a massive disc of dust particles around the larger inner planet, YSES-1b, which is approximately 14 times the mass of Jupiter. This discovery challenges existing planet formation theories, as the two planets in the same environment exhibit significant differences in their compositions and surroundings.

Despite being 16 million years old, YSES-1b still has a swirling disk of material around it, contrary to astronomers' expectations. The James Webb space telescope continues to provide valuable data to refine models and enhance our understanding of planetary formation processes.

The $10 billion telescope, launched in December 2021, has revolutionized astronomy by capturing images of the early universe, discovering new exoplanets, and observing cosmic phenomena. Its recent findings on the YSES-1 system add to the growing body of knowledge about planetary systems beyond our solar system.