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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)
This artist’s concept shows what the exoplanet WASP-39 b could look like based on indirect transit observations from NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope as well as other space- and ground-based telescopes. Data collected by Webb’s NIRSpec (Near-Infrared Spectrograph) show variations between the eternal morning and evening atmosphere of the planet. Credit: NASA, ESA, CSA, R. Crawford (STScI)
image: © Ianm35 | iStock

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.