A new study reveals the presence of high-speed iron winds on the exoplanet WASP-76b, where temperatures reach 2,400 degrees Celsius, causing iron to vaporize and rain down as molten metal. This discovery sheds light on the extreme atmospheric conditions found on ultra-hot Jupiters and helps scientists understand planetary climates in greater detail.
Astronomers have discovered an exoplanet with an incredibly elongated orbit, swinging from close proximity to its star to a distance similar to Earth’s orbit. This extreme orbit provides a unique opportunity to study the effects of intense heating on a planet’s atmosphere and shed light on how hot Jupiter planets form.
A ‘hot Jupiter’ exoplanet called HD 189733 b, known for its scorching temperatures and molten glass rain, has been found to contain hydrogen sulfide, giving it a distinctive rotten egg smell. This discovery, made using the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST), sheds light on the composition of exoplanets and provides a stepping stone for understanding planetary formation. While HD 189733 b is unlikely to support life due to its extreme conditions, the presence of hydrogen sulfide suggests that similar molecules could be found on other exoplanets, potentially harboring life.
