NASA has found water on a planet outside our solar system. The planet’s name is WASP-18b, and the Hubble, Spitzer, and Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS) telescopes assisted in its discovery in 2009. Here, water has been identified by the James Webb Space Telescope.
Astronomers have discovered steam and gas in the atmosphere of this planet, which is 400 light years from Earth.
Important Elements Of This Planet
- It goes by the name Ultra Hot Gas Giant.
- This planet is ten times larger than Jupiter.
- 23 hours make up one year in this place.
- Up to 2,700 degree Celsius in temperature has been measured by WASP-18b. According to scientists, the water evaporated and spread throughout the atmosphere as a result of the extreme temperatures.
- According to NASA, the planet always faces its star, just as the Moon always has one side facing Earth.
There is also WASP-39b outside of the solar system
Carbon dioxide (CO2) was found on the extrasolar planet WASP-39 b on August 29, 2022. The distance between this planet and the Earth is 700 light years. This planet orbits a star similar to the Sun. WASP-39b is only a quarter the mass of Jupiter, but due to gas, it appears 30% larger than Jupiter. Its diameter (diameter) is 1.3 times greater than Jupiter’s, though.
On WASP-39 b, the temperature is about 900 degrees Celsius. Its star is very near to where it revolves. In this case, 4 days are equal to 1 year. The planet was only found in 2011, but researchers say that its image has recently come to light. A radio telescope was used to make the discovery.
How Was CO2 Found?
WASP-39 b’s atmosphere was found to contain water vapour, sodium, and potassium by the Hubble and Spitzer telescopes. CO2 has now been found by the James Webb telescope. Scientists have learned about this by observing the gas’s colour. In actuality, gases actually absorb specific colours so we can detect them.
