Astronomers have discovered an Earth-size planet, SPECULOOS-3 b, orbiting a red dwarf star 55 light-years away. The planet is tidally locked to its star, constantly exposed to intense radiation that has eroded away its atmosphere. Although not habitable for life as we know it, SPECULOOS-3 b provides a unique opportunity to study the geology and chemical composition of an airless, rocky exoplanet.
Due to a phenomenon called tidal locking, we only ever see one side of the Moon from Earth. The Moon’s rotation is synchronized with its orbit around our planet, taking the same amount of time to complete both. This locking occurs because of the gravitational forces between the two bodies, which gradually slow down the Moon’s rotation over time. While we may not be able to see the far side of the Moon directly, spacecraft have captured images of its rugged and cratered landscape.
Scientists utilizing the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) have unveiled the enigmatic weather patterns of WASP-43b, a distant planet 280 light-years away. This gas giant is characterized by its extreme temperature variations, with one side scorching at 2,300 degrees Fahrenheit and the other shrouded in eternal darkness at 1,110 degrees Fahrenheit. The interplay between these extreme temperatures drives fierce winds that can reach speeds of up to 5,600 mph.
