The CHEOPS space telescope is providing new information on the mysterious exoplanet WASP-76b. This ultra-hot giant is characterized by an asymmetry between the amount of light observed on its eastern terminator -- the fictitious line that separates its night side from its day side -- and that observed on its western terminator.
This peculiarity is thought to be due to a 'glory', a luminous phenomenon similar to a rainbow, which occurs if the light from the star -- the 'sun' around which the exoplanet orbits -- is reflected by clouds made up of a perfectly uniform substance. If this hypothesis is confirmed, this would be the first detection of this phenomenon outside our solar system .
Since its discovery in 2013, WASP-76b has been the subject of intense scrutiny by astronomers. A strangely hellish picture has emerged. One side of the planet is always facing its star, reaching temperatures of 2,400 degrees Celsius. Elements that would form rocks on Earth melt and evaporate here, before condensing on the slightly cooler night side, creating clouds of iron that drip molten iron rain.
Combining these new data with those from other telescopes , the astronomers were able to put forward a surprising hypothesis to explain the excess luminous flux on the eastern side of the planet: ''This unexpected glow could be caused by a strong, localised and anisotropic reflection -- i.e.
Detecting such tiny phenomena at such a great distance will enable scientists and engineers to identify others that are just as crucial. For example, the reflection of starlight off liquid lakes and oceans -- a necessary condition for habitability.O. D. S. Demangeon, P. E. Cubillos, V. Singh, T. G. Wilson, L. Carone, A. Bekkelien, A. Deline, D. Ehrenreich, P. F. L. Maxted, B.-O. Demory, T. Zingales, M. Lendl, A. Bonfanti, S. G. Sousa, A. Brandeker, Y. Alibert, R. Alonso, J. Asquier, T.
Extrasolar Planets Solar System Stars Sun Jupiter Satellites Space Telescopes
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