Scientists discover planet dubbed the new Jupiter – and it smells of wee

An artist’s impression of the planet Epsilon Indi Ab, with water clouds floating over its ammonia-dominated atmosphere (Picture: E. C. Matthews, MPIA / T. Müller, HdA/Cover Media)

Astronomers have found a Jupiter-like planet several light years away which probably smells of urine.

Epsilon Indi Ab has an ammonia atmosphere with clouds of water floating above the surface – and ammonia and water are the two primary components of urine.

The pungent planet may not be top of the list for any colonisation plans by Elon Musk, but it has intrigued scientists studying it with the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST).

Elisabeth Matthews, from the Max Planck Institute for Astronomy, is the lead aut...