There are likely over a trillion exoplanets in our universe. One, 855 light-years away, harbors metallic clouds and raining gems.
This strange world, WASP-121 b, is known as a hot Jupiter because it is a gaseous giant that is close to its star. The planet is locked to its star, like the moon is locked to Earth.
Scientists have shown that gems and airborne metals exist on the cooler side of the planet. The intensely hot, 3,000 degree-Celsius, or over 5,400 degree Fahrenheit, dayside evaporates such clouds. The temperature of the nightside atmosphere was measured using unique observations from the Hubble Space Telescope and it was found that it was cool enough for various metals to condense. The metals that were detected on WASP-121 b were magnesium, iron, vanadium, chromium, and nickel.
It is rare and challenging for astronomy to probe the atmospheres of distant exoplanets. The team used a clever observational method to see the make-up of WASP-121 b's upper atmosphere. Hubble was able to analyze the sunlight that passed through the atmosphere and reveal some of the chemicals present.
On the cool side, the temperature is between 1,500 and 2,700 degrees Celsius. That is too hot for water clouds. In a gaseous state, metals will condense. What might the clouds look like?
We don't have clouds like these to observe up close in our own solar system, so I don't think we can say what they would look like.
"I don't know what the clouds would look like for sure, but it's fun to speculate."
He thinks the metallic clouds could look like dust storms that form on Earth. The clouds color is also speculation. Why not think about it? The researchers think WASP-121 b contains aluminum. The corundum and other trace chemicals that make up the gems are likely found on WASP-121 b. Some of the clouds may have red and blue colors.
Other clouds could be beige. I don't know what the clouds would look like, but it's fun to speculate.
An artist's conception of the exoplanet WASP-121 b, which orbits close to its sun. Credit: Patricia Klein / MPIA
When the conditions are right, metallic droplets in the clouds will rain in spectacular form.
Liquid gems could therefore be raining on the night side of WASP-121.
It is about to be changed by exoplanet research.
The most powerful space telescope ever built was launched into space and arrived at its home nearly one million miles away. The science mission will begin this summer and take one-quarter of its first year to observe the atmospheres of exoplanets. We will learn things that have never been learned before. The telescope can see more light than Hubble.
We know that the ingredients for life are found on rocky planets around twice the size of Earth. Water, carbon dioxide, and methane are included.
Mercedes Lopez-Morales, an exoplanet researcher and astronomer at the Center for Astrophysics-Harvard, told Mashable that they will be able to tell what the planets are made of.
Stay informed. We already know that the galaxy contains wild exoplanets. What other things will we find in distant solar systems?
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