{"id":793842,"date":"2025-02-24T08:49:06","date_gmt":"2025-02-24T13:49:06","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/spaceweekly.com\/?p=793842"},"modified":"2025-02-24T08:49:06","modified_gmt":"2025-02-24T13:49:06","slug":"our-1st-3d-weather-map-from-a-distant-exoplanet","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/spaceweekly.com\/?p=793842","title":{"rendered":"Our 1st 3D weather map from a distant exoplanet"},"content":{"rendered":"<p> <br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"First 3D observations of an exoplanet\u2019s atmosphere\" width=\"1110\" height=\"624\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/5FAG95ixCuo?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><br \/><em>Here it is! Our 1st 3D weather map for an exoplanet 900 light-years away. Video via European Southern Observatory (ESO)<\/em>.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Astronomers have created the first 3D weather map for an exoplanet<\/strong>, located some 900 light-years away.<\/li>\n<li><strong>The planet is called WASP-121b, aka Tylos<\/strong>. It\u2019s a hot Jupiter in the direction of the constellation Puppis. It orbits close to its star, with the same side always facing the star.<\/li>\n<li><strong>The atmosphere has three distinct layers,<\/strong> with powerful winds. It contains elements such iron and titanium.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>For the first time ever, astronomers have created a 3D map that lets them scrutinize the weather on an alien exoplanet. Researchers at the European Southern Observatory (ESO) in Germany said on February 18, 2025, that they used all four telescopes of the Very Large Telescope (VLT) array in Chile to create this map. The exoplanet \u2013 called WASP-121b, aka Tylos \u2013 is a hot Jupiter found 900 light-years away in the direction of the constellation Puppis. The map revealed powerful winds on this planet, and complex weather patterns, in three distinct layers of atmosphere.<\/p>\n<p>It also revealed unusual elements in the planet\u2019s atmosphere, such as iron and titanium.<\/p>\n<p>The international research team published their peer-reviewed findings in the journal <em>Nature<\/em> on February 18. A free preprint version is also available on arXiv. In addition, a companion peer-reviewed study was also published in <em>Astronomy &amp; Astrophysics<\/em> on February 19.<\/p>\n<p>2025 EarthSky lunar calendar is available now. A unique and beautiful poster-sized calendar with phases of the moon for every night of the year. Get yours today!<\/p>\n<h3>3D weather map \u2018feels like science fiction\u2019<\/h3>\n<p>The researchers found that the atmosphere of WASP-121b has three layers. Roughly speaking, it has iron winds in its bottom layer of atmosphere, followed by a fast jet stream of sodium in the middle, and then an upper layer of hydrogen winds.<\/p>\n<p>Julia Victoria Seidel at ESO is the lead author of the new study. She said:<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p>This planet\u2019s atmosphere behaves in ways that challenge our understanding of how weather works, not just on Earth, but on all planets. It feels like something out of science fiction.<\/p>\n<p>What we found was surprising: a jet stream rotates material around the planet\u2019s equator, while a separate flow at lower levels of the atmosphere moves gas from the hot side to the cooler side. <\/p>\n<p>This kind of climate has never been seen before on any planet. Even the strongest hurricanes in the solar system seem calm in comparison.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>Co-author Leonardo A. dos Santos at the Space Telescope Science Institute (STScI) in Baltimore, Maryland, added:<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p>The Very Large Telescope enabled us to probe three different layers of the exoplanet\u2019s atmosphere in one fell swoop. It\u2019s the kind of observation that is very challenging to do with space telescopes \u2026 <\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>Previously, other observations had not seen the titanium, but these new observations showed that titanium is deep in the atmosphere of WASP-121b .<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_502833\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-502833\" style=\"width: 800px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-502833\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">View larger. | This diagram shows the structure and motion of the atmosphere of the exoplanet WASP-121b (Tylos). The exoplanet is shown from above, at one of its poles. Image via ESO\/ M. Kornmesser.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h3>Here\u2019s how they did it<\/h3>\n<p>The researchers used the telescopes to peer <em>through<\/em> the planet\u2019s atmosphere. WASP-121b is a hot Jupiter, which means it\u2019s a giant gas planet that orbits close to its star. So its atmosphere is thick. Plus it\u2019s so close to its star that a full year on this planet \u2013 one full orbit around its sun \u2013 is only 30 hours long. In addition, the planet is also tidally locked, meaning that one side always faces its star. It\u2019s similar one side of our moon always facing Earth. As a result, that side of the planet is scorching hot, while the other side remains shaded and cooler.<\/p>\n<p>The ESPRESSO instrument on the Very Large Telescope combined the light of the four large telescope units into a single signal. The technique allowed astronomers to see finer details in the planet\u2019s atmosphere than would otherwise be possible. In fact, ESPRESSO was able to do this using only one transit (crossing) of the planet in front of its star. In most cases, they said, multiple transits are required to achieve a result.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_502808\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-502808\" style=\"width: 800px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/earthsky.org\/upl\/2025\/02\/WASP-121b-Tylos-exoplanet-atmosphere-3D-VLT-ESO-February-18-2025.jpg\" alt=\"Brown sphere with 3 concentric cutaway layers wrapping around it in green, yellow, and blue.\" width=\"800\" height=\"450\" class=\"size-full wp-image-502808\" srcset=\"https:\/\/earthsky.org\/upl\/2025\/02\/WASP-121b-Tylos-exoplanet-atmosphere-3D-VLT-ESO-February-18-2025.jpg 800w, https:\/\/earthsky.org\/upl\/2025\/02\/WASP-121b-Tylos-exoplanet-atmosphere-3D-VLT-ESO-February-18-2025-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/earthsky.org\/upl\/2025\/02\/WASP-121b-Tylos-exoplanet-atmosphere-3D-VLT-ESO-February-18-2025-768x432.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\"\/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-502808\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">View larger. | Here\u2019s a 3D representation of the 3 layers of atmosphere of WASP-121b (Tylos). Iron winds are in the bottom, followed by a very fast jet stream of sodium, and then an upper layer of hydrogen winds. The atmosphere also contains elements such as titanium. This kind of exoplanet atmosphere has never been seen before. Image via ESO\/ M. Kornmesser.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<blockquote class=\"bluesky-embed\" data-bluesky-uri=\"at:\/\/did:plc:ty3t56dqoufkhevgxi236w2w\/app.bsky.feed.post\/3lihmyue5ro2i\" data-bluesky-cid=\"bafyreic2dyr4snripp3ntulq4ulo7womv72bjucvtgqkgz56cdt5re7sha\">\n<p>Truly out of science fiction! ?Using ESO&#8217;s #VLT, astronomers have mapped the 3D structure of an exoplanet&#8217;s atmosphere for the first time.This atmosphere behaves in ways that challenge our understanding of how weather works.? ? #exoplanets  <\/p>\n<p>\u2014 ESO (@eso.org) 2025-02-18T16:00:33.065847Z<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<h3>Uncovering incredible things<\/h3>\n<p>Studying an exoplanet\u2019s atmosphere in such detail is an incredible achievement. And, these scientists say, it\u2019s only the beginning. As co-author Bibiana Prinoth at ESO and Lund University in Sweden commented:<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p>It\u2019s truly mind-blowing that we\u2019re able to study details like the chemical makeup and weather patterns of a planet at such a vast distance. The ELT [Extremely Large Telescope] will be a game-changer for studying exoplanet atmospheres. This experience makes me feel like we\u2019re on the verge of uncovering incredible things we can only dream about now.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>Bottom line: Astronomers have created the 1st 3D weather map for an exoplanet 900 light-years away. This hot Jupiter has powerful winds and three distinct atmospheric layers.<\/p>\n<p>Sources:<\/p>\n<p>Vertical structure of an exoplanet\u2019s atmospheric jet stream<\/p>\n<p>Vertical structure of an exoplanet\u2019s atmospheric jet stream (preprint)<\/p>\n<p>Titanium chemistry of WASP-121 b with ESPRESSO in 4-UT mode<\/p>\n<p>Via European Southern Observatory<\/p>\n<p>Read more: Webb telescope 1st close look at exoplanet atmosphere<\/p>\n<p>Read more: Exoplanet TRAPPIST-1 b might have a hazy atmosphere<\/p>\n<p><span class=\"cp-load-after-post\"\/><\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"post-author\">\n<h4>Paul Scott Anderson<\/h4>\n<p>                    View Articles\n                  <\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"post-tags\">\n<h6 data-udy-fe=\"text_7c58270d\">About the Author:<\/h6>\n<p>Paul Scott Anderson has had a passion for space exploration that began when he was a child when he watched Carl Sagan\u2019s Cosmos. He studied English, writing, art and computer\/publication design in high school and college. He later started his blog The Meridiani Journal in 2005, which was later renamed Planetaria. He also later started the blog Fermi Paradoxica, about the search for life elsewhere in the universe.&#13;<br \/>\n&#13;<br \/>\nWhile interested in all aspects of space exploration, his primary passion is planetary science and SETI. In 2011, he started writing about space on a freelance basis with Universe Today. He has also written for SpaceFlight Insider and AmericaSpace and has also been published in The Mars Quarterly. He also did some supplementary writing for the iOS app Exoplanet.&#13;<br \/>\n&#13;<br \/>\nHe has been writing for EarthSky since 2018, and also assists with proofing and social media.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p><br \/>\n<br \/><a href=\"https:\/\/earthsky.org\/space\/1st-3d-weather-map-wasp-121b-exoplanet\/?rand=772280\">Source link <\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Here it is! Our 1st 3D weather map for an exoplanet 900 light-years away. Video via European Southern Observatory (ESO). Astronomers have created the first 3D weather map for an&hellip; <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":793843,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[46],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-793842","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-earth-sky"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/spaceweekly.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/793842","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/spaceweekly.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/spaceweekly.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/spaceweekly.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/spaceweekly.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=793842"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/spaceweekly.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/793842\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/spaceweekly.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/793843"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/spaceweekly.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=793842"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/spaceweekly.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=793842"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/spaceweekly.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=793842"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}