Webb Telescope Unveils Atmospheric Differences on Distant Exoplanet

New findings highlight temperature and cloud cover variations between the perpetual morning and evening sides of WASP-39b.

$This illustration shows what exoplanet WASP-39 b could look like, based on current understanding of the planet. WASP-39 b is a hot, puffy gas giant with a mass 0.28 times Jupiter (0.94 times Saturn) and a diameter 1.3 times greater than Jupiter, orbiting just 0.0486 astronomical units (4,500,000 miles) from its star. The star, WASP-39, is fractionally smaller and less massive than the Sun. Because it is so close to its star, WASP-39 b is very hot and is likely to be tidally locked, with one side facing the star at all times. NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope’s exquisitely sensitive instruments have provided a profile of WASP-39 b’s atmospheric constituents and identified a plethora of contents, including water, sulfur dioxide, carbon monoxide, sodium and potassium. This illustration is based on indirect transit observations from Webb as well as other space- and ground-based telescopes. Webb has not captured a direct image of this planet. Credit: NASA, ESA, CSA, Joseph Olmsted (STScI)$

Overview

WASP-39b, a tidally locked exoplanet, shows significant temperature differences between its morning and evening sides.
The James Webb Space Telescope's sensitivity enabled the detection of these variations, with the evening side being hotter by 300 degrees Fahrenheit.
Researchers used transmission spectra to analyze the exoplanet's atmosphere, revealing distinct cloud cover patterns.
High-speed winds circulate around the planet, contributing to the temperature and atmospheric differences.
The study marks a significant advancement in understanding atmospheric dynamics on exoplanets and sets the stage for future research.