COVENTRY, England — Astronomers have discovered potential evidence of a phenomenon known as the “glory” effect on a planet beyond our solar system, a first-of-its-kind observation that might shed light on the habitability of distant worlds.

The so-called “glory light” effect is a fascinating phenomenon that looks like rings of light surrounding a central bright spot. This happens when light from a star (like the Sun) is scattered in a specific way by tiny particles in the atmosphere of a planet or moon. These particles bend the light, creating a series of colorful, concentric circles. It’s similar to seeing a rainbow around your shadow when you’re looking opposite the sun on a misty day, except this occurs on a much larger…