Scientists study in detail the dark side of ‘hot Jupiter’ exoplanet for the first time

Astronomers have Mapping the atmospheres of alien planets for some time, but close observations of their night-sides have proven elusive – even to this day. An MIT-led study has provided First detailed look at a “hot Jupiter“The dark side of the exoplanet by temperature mapping based on the altitude and water presence of WASP-121b. Because the distant planet (850 light-years away) is tightly locked to its host star. it, the difference from the bright side could not be more obvious.

The dark side of the planet contributes to an extremely violent water cycle. In the event that the daytime side splits the water with temperatures exceeding 4,940F, the nighttime is cool enough (up to ‘only’ 2,780F) to recombine them into water. The result throws water atoms around the planet at more than 11,000MPH. That dark side is also cool enough to have clouds of iron and corundum (a mineral in rubies and sapphires), and you can see rain made of liquid gems and titanium as the vapors from the day cool.

The researchers collected spectroscopic data from the Hubble Space Telescope for two orbits in 2018 and 2019. Many scientists have used this method to study the bright side of exoplanets, but dark side observations require detection of small changes in spectral lines indicating water vapor. That line helped the scientists create temperature maps, and the team sent those maps through the models to help identify likely chemicals.

This is the first detailed study of the global atmosphere of an alien planet, according to MIT. That holistic view will help explain where Hot Machining devices like the WASP-121b can form. And while a jovian world like this is obviously too dangerous for humans, a closer examination of the atmospheres of alien planets could help in the search. the planet is actually habitable.