The absence of methane suggests a potentially warm interior.
The exoplanet's atmosphere contains water vapor, sulfur dioxide, and silicate sand clouds.
The presence of sulfur dioxide could indicate a water-sulfuric acid evaporative cycle.
This is the first instance where astronomers have been able to identify the chemical composition of clouds in a distant planet.
WASP-107b is a 'puffy' exoplanet located 212 light-years away.
European astronomers at the KU Leuven Institute of Astronomy in Belgium have discovered an exoplanet, WASP-107b, using data from the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST). The exoplanet, located 212 light-years away, is known for its 'puffy' appearance due to its low density. It has been found to have water vapor and sulfur dioxide in its atmosphere, as well as silicate clouds that fall as sand rain. The presence of sulfur dioxide could indicate a water-sulfuric acid evaporative cycle on WASP-107b. The absence of methane suggests a potentially warm interior. This is the first instance where astronomers have been able to identify the chemical composition of clouds in a distant planet. The planet is as heavy as Neptune but nearly as big as Jupiter, allowing the telescope to look deeply into its atmosphere. The planet's atmosphere was studied using JWST's Mid-Infrared Instrument (MIRI).
The presence of sulfur dioxide was unexpected as previous models predicted its absence. The planet's water and cloud cycles are similar to Earth's, but its clouds are formed of sand, made of silicate. The planet is located 200 light years away in the Virgo constellation. The planet, also known as 'cotton floss' due to its low density, has an atmosphere where specks of sand fall as rain. The planet's water and cloud cycles are similar to Earth's, but its clouds are formed of sand, made of silicate.