The James Webb Space Telescope has uncovered the fiery origins of a distant exoplanet called WASP-121b, which is being scorching its star. The planet lies in a blisteringly hot 30-hour orbit and faces its star permanently, causing temperatures to soar above 3,000°C (5,400°F). This extreme environment makes it one of the most hostile planets ever observed.
Using the telescope’s Near Infrared Spectrograph instrument, astronomers detected a cocktail of molecules in WASP-121b’s atmosphere, including water vapor, carbon monoxide, methane, and silicon monoxide. These findings reveal that the planet did not form where it is today but rather originated in a colder region of its planetary system.
The presence of silicon monoxide suggests that this gas was originally locked in solid minerals and was later vaporized and mixed into the atmosphere as the planet spiraled inward toward its star. The abundance of methane on the cooler “night” side of WASP-121b is also surprising, as it typically breaks down under such heat.
The discovery challenges current exoplanet dynamical models and highlights the need for adaptations to reproduce the strong vertical mixing observed in WASP-121b’s atmosphere. This research provides valuable insights into how gas giant atmospheres work under extreme temperature conditions and offers a unique window into the planet’s dramatic journey through its planetary system.
Source: https://www.space.com/astronomy/james-webb-space-telescope/james-webb-space-telescope-unveils-fiery-origins-of-a-distant-hellish-exoplanet