Hubble Space Telescope Observes Exoplanet
Westbury, NY’s Valerie Varnuska has diverse interests, including art, science, and astronomy. Valerie Varnuska enjoys reading about updates on astronomical discoveries.
Because of the Hubble Space Telescope, NASA has been able to study planets beyond our solar system, collectively labeled exoplanets. Numbering in the thousands, many of these planets are significantly larger than Jupiter. Their immense size and tight orbit around stars cause their surfaces to reach incredibly high temperatures.
While using the Hubble to collect temperature data for exoplanet WASP-121b, scientists discovered a curious phenomenon. The surface of WASP-121b is so hot that heavy metal elements such as iron evaporate out of the planet’s atmosphere. This is the first time scientists have observed this anywhere in the universe.
WASP-121b owes its extreme conditions to the proximity to its star. The intense heat affects the planet’s gravitational pull, making it easier for elements to escape. NASA will soon launch the James Webb Space Telescope to gather more information about this unique exoplanet.
Because of the Hubble Space Telescope, NASA has been able to study planets beyond our solar system, collectively labeled exoplanets. Numbering in the thousands, many of these planets are significantly larger than Jupiter. Their immense size and tight orbit around stars cause their surfaces to reach incredibly high temperatures.
While using the Hubble to collect temperature data for exoplanet WASP-121b, scientists discovered a curious phenomenon. The surface of WASP-121b is so hot that heavy metal elements such as iron evaporate out of the planet’s atmosphere. This is the first time scientists have observed this anywhere in the universe.
WASP-121b owes its extreme conditions to the proximity to its star. The intense heat affects the planet’s gravitational pull, making it easier for elements to escape. NASA will soon launch the James Webb Space Telescope to gather more information about this unique exoplanet.
