The revolutionary molecule of James Webb has revolutionary spots in burning clouds of “Hell Planet” giant
Astronomers using the NASA James Webb space telescope (JWST) have identified several surprising molecules in the hot clouds of an “infernal” extraterrestrial world. One of the compounds has never been seen in any planetary atmosphere before.
THE exoplanetdouble Wasp-121bis a gas giant, about 1.2 times more massive than Jupiter And approximately 1.8 times wider, which was discovered for the first time in 2016. It is located about 880 light years from the solar system And orbits extremely close to its star at home, surrounding the extraterrestrial sun every 30.5 hours. Its extreme proximity to the star means that it is “locked at tide”, similar to the way in which The moon is trapped around the earthWhere one side of the planet constantly faces the star while the other is always pointed out. If he had to get closer to the star, the planet would probably be torn apart.
The eternal “day” of the hell of the planet reaches temperatures of around 5,500 degrees Fahrenheit (3000 degrees Celsius), classifying exoplanet as “ultra hot”, while its dark “nocturnal side” is a slightly more vintable 2,750 F (1500 C). Recent studies have also revealed that the extraterreous world Fusion iron and extreme hurricanes rain who make it The greatest storms in the solar system seems calm in comparison.
Researchers recently transformed the instrument of near infrared spectrographers from Jwst (Nirspec) to Wasp-121b-also known as “Tylos” (that is to say Bahrain in the old Greek), after the Gulf State won the right to name it In 2022 – to better see its superhot atmosphere. The team made observations from the whole brief orbit of the exoplanet around its sun, allowing them to capture clear photos from its sides day and night.
Team observations, described in two articles published on June 2 in the journal Natural astronomy And The astronomical newspaperrevealed single -cyxide silicon gas (SIO) in the atmosphere on the endless side of the exoplanet, which was not detected in the atmospheres of one of the more than 5,000 exoplanets discovered so far.
In relation: Has the James Webb telescope really find proof of extraterrestrial life? Here is the truth about Exoplanet K2-18B.
“SIO detection in the atmosphere of Wasp-121b is revolutionary”, ” Anjali PietteAn astronomer at the University of Birmingham in the United Kingdom and co-author of Nature Astronomy Study, said in a statement. “”[It is] The first conclusive identification of this molecule in any planetary atmosphere. “”
Sio is sometimes in the stars, but is quite rare elsewhere. It can be synthetic on earth and is used to make solar panels, optical devices and certain batteries. However, it is always a solid because its sparkling form is too unstable to exist in most planetary atmospheres.
Unlike other first -rate molecules identified by JWST, such as the Controversial “Life Signature” on Dimethyl sulfide on K2-18BThe presence of SIO on exoplanet is not an indication of potential extraterrestrial life – even if Silicon -based life forms can be possible.
Instead, the molecule probably comes from materials rich in silicate, like quartz, inside the asteroids that burned in the atmosphere of Wasp-121b. The compound remained in a gas state due to incredibly high temperatures on the side of the day.
The researchers note that the new results are proof of the extraordinary resolution of JWST, which will allow us to know more about the way in which the “planets of hell” and other gas giants are formed.
“The study of the chemistry of ultra hot planets like WASP-121B helps us to understand how giant gas atmospheres work in extreme temperature conditions”. Joanna BarstowA planetary scientist of the open university of the United Kingdom who co-wrote the two new studies, said in a statement.
