Swiss Astronomers Identify HD 189733 b as the Most Extreme Weather Exoplanet in the Universe
Researchers from the University of Geneva and the University of Bern in Switzerland have calculated that winds on the exoplanet HD 189733 b can reach speeds of up to 8,700 km/h, seven times the speed of sound, according to the New Zealand Herald. However, these conditions are not the most extreme aspect of the planet; its glass rain has been likened to “thousands of deadly cuts.”
“The nightmare world of HD 189733 b is a death trap unlike anything you’ve ever encountered. From a distance, the planet appears bright blue, easily mistaken for Earth’s serene sky. But the weather here is indeed lethal,” commented NASA.
The planet’s blue color is not a reflection of oceans as on Earth, but results from its atmosphere, which contains clouds mixed with silicate particles.
The atmosphere of HD 189733 b can reach temperatures up to 3,000 degrees Celsius. (Image: NASA/ESA).
HD 189733 b is a giant gas planet larger than Jupiter, located 63 light-years from Earth. It resides in the constellation Vulpecula, also known as the “little fox.” HD 189733 b orbits its parent star at a distance more than 13 times that of Mercury from the Sun and completes one orbit in just 2.2 days.
According to Dr. Kevin Heng, the lead researcher, this discovery is significant because the results are based on observations from a small 3.6-meter ground-based telescope at the European Southern Observatory (ESO) in La Silla, Chile, but the measurements are of quality comparable to those from the Hubble Space Telescope.
The technique used by Heng’s research team involves measuring sodium signals from distant planets. When a planet passes in front of its parent star, the intensity of this signal changes. Depending on the strength of the signal, astronomers can calculate the temperature on the planet.
Since signals are emitted from various altitudes, the research team can also measure temperature differences throughout the atmosphere. Near the surface, the planet’s temperature decreases from 3,000 to 1,700 degrees Celsius.
To measure wind speed, they relied on changes in the sodium signal transmitted to Earth. These changes indicate that winds on the planet move in a cyclical manner at super-fast speeds. Measurements from the Hubble Space Telescope also yielded similar results.
This research opens up opportunities for scientists to learn about the atmospheres of distant exoplanets without the need for massive observatories or space telescopes.
This exoplanet has an atmosphere filled with hydrogen sulfide.
Recently, the James Webb Telescope revealed that the hot exoplanet HD 189733 b, located just 64 light-years from Earth, has an atmosphere rich in hydrogen sulfide (which smells like rotten eggs).
Researchers previously speculated that hydrogen sulfide could be found on distant gas giants since the atmospheres of Jupiter and Uranus contain the same type of molecule. However, this gas is rarely detected outside the solar system, except for small amounts found in the interstellar medium or between stars.
The lead author of the study, Guangwei Fu, an astrophysicist at Johns Hopkins University in Maryland, stated that the detection of hydrogen sulfide on HD 189733 b is an important stepping stone to discovering this molecule on other planets and gaining a better understanding of how different types of planets form.
The presence of hydrogen sulfide is significant as it indicates that this exoplanet contains sulfur, an essential element for forming more complex molecules. Sulfur is also a key element for most life forms on Earth.
In this case, HD 189733 b is unlikely to harbor extraterrestrial life due to its extreme temperatures and weather conditions. However, the discovery of this gas on distant worlds beyond our solar system could increase the chances of finding a similar exoplanet that could sustain extraterrestrial life.
Scientists also believe that if the JWST were placed on the other side of the Milky Way, it could detect signs of life on Earth.
