Scientists have made a groundbreaking discovery using the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST), which has delivered the first weather report of an exoplanet called SIMP-0136. Located 20 light-years away in the constellation Pisces, this brown dwarf world is about 200 million years old and spins once every two and a half hours.
The study found that SIMP-0136’s atmosphere undergoes subtle changes as it rotates, including shifts in temperature, chemistry, and clouds. The JWST detected minute changes in brightness, allowing scientists to map its atmospheric layers. The most surprising finding was the presence of a layer nearly 570 degrees Fahrenheit warmer than predicted, which is likely caused by auroras.
Auroras on SIMP-0136 are much more intense than Earth’s northern lights, and they supercharge the charged particles slamming into the atmosphere, heating the air itself. The study also detected tiny temperature swings in deeper layers, possibly indicating huge storm systems moving across the surface as the world spins.
This discovery opens a new window onto the weather of exoplanets beyond our solar system. By studying SIMP-0136’s weather patterns, scientists can learn how atmospheres behave on distant worlds and gain insights into the potential habitability of these planets.
Source: https://www.space.com/astronomy/james-webb-space-telescope/jwst-delivers-1st-weather-report-of-nearby-world-with-no-sun-stormy-and-covered-with-auroras