Webb telescope details weather patterns on distant exoplanet

Webb telescope details weather patterns on distant exoplanet
by Clarence Oxford
Los Angeles CA (SPX) May 01, 2024

Using the Mid-Infrared Instrument (MIRI) aboard NASA's Webb Telescope, scientists have conducted a detailed examination of the weather on WASP-43 b, a hot gas-giant exoplanet 280 light-years from Earth. The planet, similar in size to Jupiter but in a much closer orbit to its star, has revealed a range of atmospheric phenomena including high-speed equatorial winds and stark temperature differences between its day and night sides.

A collaborative international research team utilized the James Webb Space Telescope's capabilities to gather precise brightness measurements and apply advanced 3D climate modeling. This has allowed for insights into the atmospheric conditions of WASP-43 b, which orbits its host star at only 1.3 million miles away, experiencing temperatures and environmental dynamics vastly different from those in our solar system.

The data indicates that the planet's nightside is enshrouded by thick clouds that cool the surface, while the dayside remains clear with temperatures soaring up to 2,300 degrees Fahrenheit. Additionally, the researchers observed a significant shift in the location of the hottest point on the planet due to strong eastward winds, a phenomenon that aids in the even distribution of thermal energy.

"With Hubble, we could clearly see that there is water vapor on the dayside. Both Hubble and Spitzer suggested there might be clouds on the nightside," explained Taylor Bell, researcher from the Bay Area Environmental Research Institute and lead author of a study published in Nature Astronomy. "But we needed more precise measurements from Webb to really begin mapping the temperature, cloud cover, winds, and more detailed atmospheric composition all the way around the planet."

"The fact that we can map temperature in this way is a real testament to Webb's sensitivity and stability," said Michael Roman, a co-author from the University of Leicester.

"Webb has given us an opportunity to figure out exactly which molecules we're seeing and put some limits on the abundances," said Joanna Barstow, a co-author from the Open University in the U.K.

"The fact that we don't see methane tells us that WASP-43 b must have wind speeds reaching something like 5,000 miles per hour," explained Barstow. "If winds move gas around from the dayside to the nightside and back again fast enough, there isn't enough time for the expected chemical reactions to produce detectable amounts of methane on the nightside."

This research underscores the sophisticated instrumentation of the Webb Telescope and its pivotal role in expanding our understanding of planets beyond our solar system.