Webb Discovered Sand Rains In The Atmosphere Of A Neighboring Exoplanet
A team of European astronomers led by researchers from the Catholic University of Leuven used recent observations made with the James Webb Space Telescope to study the atmosphere of the nearby exoplanet WASP-107b. They found not only water vapor and sulfur dioxide, but even clouds of silicate sand.
Exoplanet WASP-107b in the WASP-107 system in the constellation Virgo was discovered by the robotic observatory Wide Angle Search for Planets (WASP) in 2017. This is the second planet in the system. WASP-107b’s diameter is approximately equal to that of Jupiter, and its mass approaches that of Neptune. In fact, it is a gas giant with a surprisingly “fluffy” atmosphere, as the study authors note. This makes it possible to study the planet’s atmosphere through “transmission” as it passes across the disk of its parent star, for which the Webb instruments are well suited.
Scientists used the MIRI (Mid-Infrared Instrument) instrument installed on Webb and learned many interesting details about the planet WASP-107b that will help better understand the evolution and diversity of exoplanets in the Universe. Thus, in the atmosphere of WASP-107b, signs of water vapor, sulfur dioxide, and a cloud of “sand” were found, but, surprisingly, no signs of methane were found.
The groundbreaking research not only sheds light on the exotic world of exoplanets, but also expands the boundaries of our understanding of their atmospheres. This marks an important milestone, revealing the complex interactions of chemicals and climate conditions on these distant worlds.
